Corals are animals!!

When the kids arrived from Lihunu Village for the usual Beach Clean-up Day, we asked a simple question: “Why are students from Italy and Hong Kong on Bangka Island to study corals???” (As every year, Coral Eye Resort hosted the Reef Check Italia workshop) Asking so, we explained them the meaning of “No-Trash Triangle” with the “triangle” in question being not related to geometry but to an area named “Coral Triangle” that harbors the highest marine biodiversity in the world.

Coral reefs provide home and nursery grounds to many fish species, so we need to protect them and preserve them for example avoiding to step on them and (of course) polluting the sea with plastic.

There were a bit of uncertainties related to what corals are (rocks? plants? animals?) so we ended up with a song to dispel any doubt, and then jumped in the water for a joint snorkeling with Reef Check students!

“Would you step on a cat, no you wouldn’t do that!

Would you step on a dog, no it would be wrong!

So please, don’t step on me!

I maybe look like a rock, 

but I’m certainly not! 

I am an animal, I am a living thing,

Don’t you see the beauty and the joy that I bring?!

So please don’t step on me!”