A Journey Through the Coral Triangle
In A Journey Through the Coral Triangle, host Simon Reeve dives into the breathtaking underwater paradise of Raja Ampat in the Coral Triangle. Home to three-quarters of the world’s coral species, this ecosystem is often called the "Amazon of the Sea." Simon explains how the ocean produces half the oxygen we breathe and reveals the critical role sharks play as apex predators in keeping the marine food chain balanced. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
Lesson Express
Q: How do sharks, as apex predators, contribute to the health of the ocean’s ecosystem, and what might happen if they disappeared?
A: Sharks regulate the populations of other marine species, preventing overpopulation and maintaining balance in the food chain. Without sharks, the ecosystem could collapse, leading to overgrowth of certain species and the decline of others, ultimately harming coral reefs and marine biodiversity.
Q: Why is the Coral Triangle often referred to as the "Amazon of the Sea," and how does this comparison help us understand its importance?
A: The Coral Triangle contains a vast and diverse ecosystem, similar to the Amazon rainforest on land. This comparison highlights its critical role in supporting marine biodiversity and maintaining the balance of ocean ecosystems.
Q: How might the destruction of coral reefs in the Coral Triangle affect global biodiversity and human communities?
A: Coral reefs support a wide range of marine species, so their destruction would lead to significant biodiversity loss. Human communities that depend on the reefs for food and tourism would also face economic and environmental challenges.
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In Deep Breath: The Bajau’s Incredible Diving Adventures, Simon explores the world of the Bajau, a community of sea nomads who live in homes built on stilts above the coral reefs. He meets Bari, a skilled diver who shows him the underwater world of the coral triangle. Bari dives 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 meters) deep on a single breath, and Simon learns the Bajau have evolved to hold more oxygen in their blood, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How Ghost Nets Put Ocean Life in Danger, naturalist Steve Backshall is scuba diving when he notices something disturbing: an old net that is covering the coral reef and seabed. Steve helps free a trumpetfish and a clownfish by cutting away the netting. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In Fishing Alone in Shark-Infested Waters, host Simon Reeve joins Bari for night fishing in the pitch-black waters, where Bari must go if he has an unlucky day of fishing. Simon feels nervous about the darkness and the sharks lurking in the water. Bari faces danger each time he fishes alone, but he only takes what he needs to feed his family. Unfortunately, commercial fishing has harmed the area, making it harder for Bari to catch enough fish during the day and forcing him to take these risky trips at night. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile
In Deep Breath: The Bajau’s Incredible Diving Adventures, Simon explores the world of the Bajau, a community of sea nomads who live in homes built on stilts above the coral reefs. He meets Bari, a skilled diver who shows him the underwater world of the coral triangle. Bari dives 50 to 65 feet (15 to 20 meters) deep on a single breath, and Simon learns the Bajau have evolved to hold more oxygen in their blood, allowing them to stay underwater for long periods of time! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile.
In How Ghost Nets Put Ocean Life in Danger, naturalist Steve Backshall is scuba diving when he notices something disturbing: an old net that is covering the coral reef and seabed. Steve helps free a trumpetfish and a clownfish by cutting away the netting. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.
In Fishing Alone in Shark-Infested Waters, host Simon Reeve joins Bari for night fishing in the pitch-black waters, where Bari must go if he has an unlucky day of fishing. Simon feels nervous about the darkness and the sharks lurking in the water. Bari faces danger each time he fishes alone, but he only takes what he needs to feed his family. Unfortunately, commercial fishing has harmed the area, making it harder for Bari to catch enough fish during the day and forcing him to take these risky trips at night. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Wilderness With Simon Reeve, an epic adventure into the heart of Earth’s last great wild areas, where nature is at its most beautiful and fragile