Unveiling the Secret World of Coral Trafficking: The Hidden Dangers and Heroic Rescues of These Underwater Creatures

Federal wildlife inspectors are facing a new challenge in their efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking: the smuggling of corals. These tiny invertebrates, crucial for the health of tropical reefs, are being illegally harvested from reefs around the world and shipped to the United States for sale to aquarium enthusiasts.

Despite the fact that corals are not plants, they are frequently mistaken for them. Marine life traffickers use hammers and chisels to remove corals from reefs in countries like Indonesia, Fiji, Tonga, Australia, and the Caribbean. These corals are then packed into bags of seawater and shipped around the world, often hidden inside shipments containing legal species.

The illegal trade in corals poses a significant threat to these fragile animals, which are already facing numerous challenges such as disease outbreaks, bleaching events, ocean acidification, and warming seas. In fact, corals were the third-most confiscated wildlife group globally between 1999 and 2018, making up 14.6 percent of all seizures.

To address this issue, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has partnered with zoos and aquariums near airports and ports to house confiscated corals. In 2023, they launched the Wildlife Confiscations Network, a pilot program in Southern California that has been successful in caring for seized corals and other wildlife.

The network includes 26 facilities that have been trained to provide triage and care for confiscated corals. These facilities work closely with law enforcement to ensure that the animals are properly cared for and that the investigation is not compromised. Since its inception, the network has processed about 2,800 animals as part of more than 70 legal cases.

Expanding the network to the Southeast, particularly in Georgia, could provide relief for government agencies and animal care institutions dealing with an influx of trafficked invertebrates. The Georgia Aquarium, which has taken in around 1,000 confiscated animals since 2010, is a natural partner in this effort.

While corals are best left in the wild, experts say that there are silver linings to the confiscation and proper care of illegally trafficked specimens. Some confiscated corals have been successfully rehabilitated and can now be seen in aquarium exhibits, serving as a reminder of the importance of protecting these vital marine animals.