AsianScientist (Oct. 27, 2011) – In April 2009, wildlife photographers Jürgen Freund and Stella Chiu-Freund set out on an 18-month expedition across the Coral Triangle, visiting bustling centers of marine product trade as well as some of the most remote and breathtaking habitats on earth.
The stunning results of this unprecedented photojournalistic expedition have been released in a 272-page masterwork of images and essays entitled The Coral Triangle, which will be launched today in Jakarta by WWF and the Freund Factory.
“We wanted the world to sit up and take notice, so we commissioned one of the world’s best wildlife photographic teams to embark on this challenging journey,” said Dr. Lida Pet-Soede, Head of WWF’s Coral Triangle Program.
The book includes over 400 stunning photographs that highlight the region’s extraordinary abundance of life – coral reefs, whales, dolphins, sharks and a brilliant kaleidoscope of reef fish interspersed with essays on the Coral Triangle by conservation experts from around the world.
Some images taken from the book, courtesy of WWF:
Harlequin ghost pipefish and red sea whips, Papua New Guinea.
Nudibranch, Papua New Guinea.
Soft coral detail (Dendronephthya sp.), New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Black whip-like coral (Stichopathes) curling round perfectly, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Baby green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatchling swimming to the sea still in the shallows of the beach. Anano Island, Wakatobi, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa), New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Bluestriped Fangblenny (Plagiotremus rhinorhynchos) in a worm hole, New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
Ascidiacea (commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts), New Britain, Papua New Guinea.
“Beauty is everywhere in this fragile marine environment, from the birds to the smallest creature underwater. And despite all that is being asked of it, this phenomenal place that is the Coral Triangle still holds wealth of unimaginable proportions,” remarked Stella Freund.
A limited number of copies of the book will be printed in October 2011. Visit www.panda.org/coraltriangle/photobook to find out more about the Coral Triangle and this book.
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Source: World Wide Fund for Nature.
Image credits: Jürgen Freund and Stella Chiu-Freund/WWF.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
