About this episode

The episode discusses a unique mission to save coral from disease, featuring insights from marine biologist Sara Stevens.

It's one of the more unusual exhibits on display at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. Stroll past the colorful butterflies and other insects, and you'll find a 250-gallon saltwater tank. It houses part of a nationwide collaboration to save a badly damaged coral reef found off the coast of Florida. The rescue project began in 2020 after a coalition of zoos and aquariums teamed up to house and grow coral in response to a disease that spread across the underwater habitat off Florida. The Butterfly Pavilion stepped up to be part of the project. Six years in, we wanted to hear how a coral colony ended up in Colorado and what challenges its handlers overcame along the way. Sara Stevens is a marine biologist who manages the coral ark project for the Butterfly Pavilion. She spoke with Erin O’Toole about this unusual rescue mission. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by…

People in this episode

Host: Erin O’Toole

Guest: Sara Stevens

Topics covered

• coral conservation
• marine biology
• environmental science
• Florida coral reefs
• zoo and aquarium collaboration

Keywords

• coral reef
• disease
• Butterfly Pavilion
• marine biologist
• conservation project
• Florida
• aquarium

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Butterfly Pavilion, KUNC

Places: Florida, Westminster

More episodes of In The NOCO

• How games that used ancient dice shaped trade and diplomacy across North America, according to a CSU archaeologist · May 5, 2026 · 9 min
• This CU professor looked into how political news on TikTok shapes young voters’ views. Here’s what he found · April 29, 2026 · 9 min
• State lawmakers scaled back rules for paying overtime to Colorado farm workers. Here’s why · April 28, 2026 · 9 min
• What Rocky Flats meant to the workers who helped create nuclear weapons there during the Cold War · April 24, 2026 · 9 min
• This proposed state law could make it easier for Colorado artists to support themselves. Here’s how · April 23, 2026 · 9 min
• Why hundreds of bird lovers will head to eastern Colorado this weekend to spot the elusive Mountain Plover · April 22, 2026 · 9 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the In The NOCO podcast page.