Thanks to its overseas territories, France is the third country in the world with the most coral reefs. On Reunion Island, corals provide many services to marine biodiversity. The coral head of Cap Lahoussaye, on the west coast of the island, the icon of Reunion's coral, is an animal that has existed for three centuries, almost as old as human settlement on the island. The scientist at the head of the Reef Check network, Jean-Pascal Quod, is behind the first station to monitor the state of health of Reunion's coral. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES