Coral reefs - endangered treasures of the oceans

“Senckenberg has a long tradition in the field of marine research. For decades, our scientists have been studying the ecology of coral reefs – especially in the Red Sea,” explains Dr. Bernd Herkner, Head of the Museum Department at the Senckenberg Nature Museum. “Senckenberg scientists are researching the biological diversity of reefs in shallow water and in the deep sea worldwide. With Prof. Dr. André Freiwald and Dr. Friedhelm Krupp, our visitors will get to know two of our renowned scientists at an audio station in the special exhibition,” he continues.

With the exhibition, Dr. Bernd Herkner has taken up the “International Year of the Reef” (IYOR) to draw visitors’ attention to the importance and value of these habitats and to raise awareness of the issue of reef protection. It also supports the association Reef Check e.V., which is a co-initiator of the IYOR.

“With this exhibition, Senckenberg is an important partner in this project and is helping to raise social awareness of the threat to reefs,” says biologist Jenny Krutschinna from Reef Check e.V..

“We want to inspire our visitors for the unique beauty of the coral reefs and at the same time inform them how quickly the sensitive balance of these ecosystems is disturbed by human influence,” adds Stefanie Raddatz, curator of the exhibition. The consequences of human activity have led to a crisis on an unprecedented scale: More than half of all warm-water coral reefs are considered to be permanently disturbed, and around a third have already been irretrievably lost. Climate change is cited as the main cause of coral death, along with factors such as marine pollution and overfishing.

The special exhibition “Coral reefs – endangered treasures of the oceans” leads thematically to the planned permanent exhibition “Coral reef”, which is due to open in 2020 as part of the modular museum renovation at the Senckenberg Nature Museum Frankfurt. The taxidermists Hildegard Enting, Sylva Scheer and Anna Frenkel are working on the presentation of a reef habitat, which will show a tropical coral reef in all its diversity as a biodiversity hotspot. “How nice that some of our work for the large diorama can already be seen as forerunners in the current special exhibition,” says Hildegard Enting happily. The detailed model of a triton horn devouring a crown-of-thorns starfish has just been completed. Sylva Scheer has painstakingly sculpted the starfish, giving viewers an unusual look at the underside of this animal – the taxidermist has made and attached more than 2,500 little feet and numerous mouthparts. Other forerunners, which will also be on display in the new “Coral Reef” museum room from 2020, are the prepared hawksbill turtle and an enlarged model of a pygmy seahorse.