The Great Barrier Reef declared dead; here is a look at the stunning Coral Sea wilderness in photos
The Great Barrier Reef is home to over 625 species of fish, over 5,000 molluscs, and around 30 different species of shark whale, dolphin and porpoises.
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, has been pronounced dead after 25 million years. Leading environmentalist/writer Rowan Jacobsen said that the incredible Coral Sea wilderness in Australia passed away in 2016.
"The Great Barrier Reef of Australia passed away in 2016 after a long illness. It was 25 million years old," Jacobsen said, according to the Sun.
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels with Oliver Lanyon and Lewis Marshall, Senior Rangers in the Great Barrier Reef region for the Queenlsand Parks and Wildlife Service, during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island located north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 10, 2015.Reuters
New images of the Coral Sea wilderness show the damage done by the climate change and bleaching, ending the world's largest single structure of living organisms. The Great Barrier Reef stretches for around 1,400 miles (2,300 km) off the coast of Australia over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,00sq/m) and is home to over 625 species of fish, over 5,000 molluscs, and around 30 different species of shark whale, dolphin and porpoises.
"After the bleaching event in May, 60 per cent of what we saw was bleached very white. Another 19-20 per cent was covered in sludgy brown algae. Even of what remained healthy, some looked a bit on edge. When we went back a few weeks ago to see if they had recovered or died, quite a large proportion had died," Amanda McKenzie, CEO of the Australian Climate Council, told ABC.
Tourism operator John Rumney told the Telegraph that he has been visiting the reef for 15 years and has seen a decline in the number of fish that appears. "The experience is still fantastic, but tourists don't know what they're looking at. They don't know what it should look like," he said.
Scroll down to check the stunning photos of the Great Barrier Reef below:
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort, snorkels with Oliver Lanyon and Lewis Marshall, Senior Rangers in the Great Barrier Reef region for the Queenlsand Parks and Wildlife Service, during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island located north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 10, 2015.Reuters
Huts that form part of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort can be seen where a turtle digs for food amongst the coral in the island's lagoon, located 80 kilometers north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015.Reuters
Natalie Friere, a diving and snorkelling guide, swims through a natural archway in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island and 80 kilometers north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 10, 2015.Reuters
Tourists walk from a boat after diving in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015.Reuters
An aerial view of Lady Elliot Island located north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 11, 2015. UNESCO World Heritage delegates recently snorkelled on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, thousands of coral reefs, which stretch over 2,000 km off the northeast coast.Reuters
Tourists snorkel near a turtle as it looks for food amongst the coral in the lagoon at Lady Elliot Island north-east of the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. The lagoon, which is occupied by turtles during high tide, is only accessible for snorkelling during this time.Reuters
Peter Gash, owner and manager of the Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort in the Great Barrier Reef area, snorkels during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island, Australia, in this June 11, 2015 file photo.Reuters
A tourist snorkels above coral in the lagoon located on Lady Elliot Island on the Great Barrier Reef, 80 kilometers north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015. rReuters
Oliver Lanyon, Senior Ranger in the Great Barrier Reef region for the Queenlsand Parks and Wildlife Service, takes photographs and notes during an inspection of the reef's condition in an area called the 'Coral Gardens' located at Lady Elliot Island and 80 kilometers north-east from the town of Bundaberg in Queensland, Australia, in this June 11, 2015 file photo.Reuters
A large piece of coral can be seen in the lagoon on Lady Elliot Island, on the Great Barrier Reef, northeast from Bundaberg town in Queensland, Australia, June 9, 2015.Reuters
