The CEO of the company, Wolfgang Kiessling, raises awareness about the dire impacts of climate change on the oceans.
PUERTO DE LA CRUZ (TENERIFE), 15th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
Loro Parque unveiled ‘Coral Kingdom’ on Friday, an innovative immersive attraction aimed at educating visitors about the importance of protecting one of the species most threatened by climate change.
This installation, stretching over 40 meters, showcases over 8,000 corals from more than 70 different species and almost 10,000 fish – including clownfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, and damselfish – housed in 260,000 litres of water. The project, which took over two years of intensive work that commenced in the United States to study reproduction systems, has finally come to fruition.
The presentation was spearheaded by the company’s CEO, Wolfgang Kiessling, who emphasised the looming threat of climate change on marine life.
The German entrepreneur highlighted the severe consequences such as drought, the impacts of increased global shipping, rising sea levels, and excessive plastic consumption are posing to society and the environment.
Kiessling described the effects on the oceans as “horrifying”, with coral reefs facing decimation. He stressed that a quarter of the ocean’s biodiversity depends on these reefs, which hold immeasurable environmental value.
He positioned his company and the Foundation as “guardians” and “ambassadors” of endangered species and exotic plants, expressing immense pride in their scientific endeavours, with over 80 projects worldwide representing an investment of 26 million dollars.
Kiessling highlighted that ‘Coral Kingdom’ is a unique spectacle not found “anywhere else” and predicted that in four years, once the corals have flourished, it will be a “marvellous sight.”
The Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, Marco González, lauded Loro Parque as a “global benchmark” and a model of biodiversity, praising the unwavering commitment the Kiessling family has shown to the municipality.
“This is not a zoo but a beacon of sustainability,” he stated, defending the institution against unwarranted criticism driven by “ignorance and misinformation.”
DÁVILA: Raising Awareness on Environmental Concerns
Rosa Dávila, President of the Tenerife Cabildo, described ‘Coral Kingdom’ as a crucial call to action from Loro Parque regarding environmental conservation, pointing out the alarming projection that up to 90% of the world’s corals could vanish by 2050.
She praised this new initiative as a significant step in safeguarding the most delicate ecosystems and commended the company for their environmental consciousness, achieving a negative carbon footprint by operating its desalination plant, producing 600 litres of water daily.
‘Coral Kingdom’, the largest artificial coral reef globally, will open to the public in a few weeks. It features a continuous glass structure of exceptional clarity with a sinuous layout that creates a sense of motion and fluidity for spectators.
The main attraction of the experience lies in the seamless blend of nature and cutting-edge audiovisual technology.
Through 360-degree projections and lifelike holograms, visitors will delve into the sandy seabed teeming with marine life, with waves crashing realistically overhead.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries alongside participants of the Annual Symposium of the European Aquatic Mammal Association, currently hosted at Loro Parque.
