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Relevance: GS Paper III — Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change Source: The Hindu / REEF Foundation, 2026

The “Potato Patch”: A Giant Living Coral Discovered Near Lakshadweep

1 · What happened

Researchers in India have documented a giant coral colony locally called the “Potato Patch” near Kadmat Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago. It covers about 4,250 sq m — nearly half an international football pitch.

It belongs to the species Pavona clavus — a massive, reef-building stony coral. Early estimates suggest it could be 700 to 1,800 years old, possibly among the largest living coral colonies in the world.

2 · Why a Living Coral This Big Matters

Corals are tiny marine animals called polyps that build hard calcium carbonate skeletons. They share a symbiotic partnership with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which give corals both food and colour.

The Discovery
Pavona clavus Colony
Sits off the south-east of Kadmat Island. Stretches 85 m long, 50 m wide, 2.8 m high; from a depth of 5.2 m down a slope to 20 m. Survey by DST, REEF Foundation and The Habitat Trust.
Resilience
58.47% Tissue Alive
Despite repeated marine heatwaves, cyclones and bleaching, more than half of the colony is still alive — a rare natural lab for studying climate adaptation in coral reefs.
The Setting
India’s Only Coral Atolls
Lakshadweep is India’s only coral atoll chain — 36 islands built on coral bases, with an average elevation of just 1–2 metres above sea level. Corals also protect them from erosion.
The Threat
Coral Bleaching
When sea surface temperature rises (often during El Niño), corals expel their zooxanthellae and turn white. Lakshadweep saw mass bleaching events in 1998, 2010 and 2016.

  • Dating methods: The exact age will be confirmed through sclerochronology (studying coral growth bands) and radiometric dating.
  • Livelihood lifeline: In Lakshadweep, every seventh person is a fisherman — their incomes depend entirely on healthy reefs.
  • Natural seawall: Corals act as a natural barrier against ocean swells and prevent saltwater intrusion into limited freshwater aquifers.

UPSC Value Box
Coral Atoll A ring-shaped coral reef enclosing a lagoon, typically formed on the rim of a submerged volcanic island. Lakshadweep is India’s only coral atoll chain.
Coral Polyp Tiny marine invertebrate that secretes a hard calcium carbonate skeleton. Millions of polyps together form a coral colony.
Zooxanthellae Microscopic algae living inside coral tissue in a symbiotic relationship — give corals food (via photosynthesis) and their bright colour.
Coral Bleaching Stress response (mainly to heat / El Niño) where corals expel zooxanthellae and turn white. Major events in Lakshadweep: 1998, 2010, 2016.
Pavona clavus A massive, reef-building stony coral species of tropical waters — the species of the newly documented “Potato Patch”.
Sclerochronology Scientific study of annual growth bands in coral skeletons — used to estimate coral age and past climate conditions.
LAPCC Lakshadweep Action Plan on Climate Change — UT-level plan aligned with the National Action Plan on Climate Change for adaptation and mitigation.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 Provides legal protection to wildlife, including corals listed under Schedule I — their collection or destruction is prohibited.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to coral reefs and the recent “Potato Patch” discovery, consider the following statements:

  1. The Lakshadweep group of islands is India’s only coral atoll chain and has an average elevation of just 1–2 metres above sea level.
  2. Corals share a symbiotic relationship with microscopic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide them food through photosynthesis and give them their colour.
  3. Coral bleaching occurs primarily because of a sharp fall in sea surface temperatures, especially during La Niña years, which damages the calcium carbonate skeleton of corals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: Lakshadweep is India’s only coral atoll chain, with 36 islands built on coral bases and an average elevation of just 1–2 metres — making it highly vulnerable to sea-level rise.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: Corals and zooxanthellae share a symbiotic relationship — the algae perform photosynthesis, supply nutrients to the polyps and give corals their vivid colours.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect (the trap): Coral bleaching is mainly caused by a rise (not fall) in sea surface temperature, typically during El Niño (not La Niña) years. Also, bleaching is the expulsion of zooxanthellae — it doesn’t damage the calcium carbonate skeleton itself.

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