{"id":1058,"date":"2025-12-22T14:07:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-22T07:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2025-12-26T10:03:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-26T03:03:56","slug":"drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/en\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/","title":{"rendered":"Drupella Cornus \u2013 The Silent Coral Predator of Phu Quoc"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<div class=\"entry-header-text entry-header-text-top text-left\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-image relative\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1.jpg\" alt=\"Drupella Cornus \u2013 The Silent Coral Predator of Phu Quoc\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"badge absolute top post-date badge-square\">\n<div class=\"badge-inner\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content single-page\">\n<p>In the diverse world of the ocean, every species plays its own role in maintaining ecological balance.\u00a0<strong>However, when a species grows beyond its natural threshold, it can quickly turn into a threat to the entire ecosystem<\/strong>. The\u00a0<strong>Drupella cornus snail<\/strong>\u2014small and unassuming\u2014is a clear example. Despite its tiny size, this\u00a0<strong>coral-eating snail<\/strong>\u00a0can cause serious damage to coral reefs when its population is not controlled.<\/p>\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\">\n<p class=\"toc_title\">MAIN CONTENTS\u00a0<span class=\"toc_toggle\">[<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#\">hide<\/a>]<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"toc_list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#1_Drupella_Cornus_Through_the_Lens_of_Marine_Ecology\">1. Drupella Cornus Through the Lens of Marine Ecology<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#2_When_Coral_Reefs_Grow_Weaker_Drupella_Takes_Over\">2. When Coral Reefs Grow Weaker \u2013 Drupella Takes Over<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#3_Drupella_Control_Efforts_at_OnBird_Phu_Quoc\">3. Drupella Control Efforts at OnBird Phu Quoc<\/a>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#Regular_surveys_and_monitoring\">Regular surveys and monitoring<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#Careful_manual_removal\">Careful, manual removal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#Protecting_predators_and_maintaining_a_healthy_food_chain\">Protecting predators and maintaining a healthy food chain<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/#4_Working_Toward_Natural_Balance\">4. Working Toward Natural Balance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Drupella_Cornus_Through_the_Lens_of_Marine_Ecology\"><\/span><span id=\"1_Drupella_Cornus_Through_the_Lens_of_Marine_Ecology\"><b>1. Drupella Cornus Through the Lens of Marine Ecology<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Drupella cornus belongs to the\u00a0<strong>Muricidae family<\/strong>\u2014a group of<strong>\u00a0spiny marine snails<\/strong>\u00a0widely distributed across the\u00a0<strong>Indo-Pacific region, including Vietnam\u2019s coastal waters<\/strong>. Measuring only\u00a0<strong>1.5\u20134 cm<\/strong>, Drupella has a\u00a0<strong>thick shell covered in sharp spines<\/strong>, with colors ranging from\u00a0<strong>grey, pink, green to brown<\/strong>, allowing it to\u00a0<strong>blend seamlessly<\/strong>\u00a0among coral branches.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61704\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61704\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-61704 lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K%C3%ADch-th%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Bc-%E1%BB%91c-d%C3%A2u-716x600.jpg\" alt=\"K\u00edch Th\u01b0\u1edbc \u1ed1c D\u00e2u\" width=\"716\" height=\"600\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K\u00edch-th\u01b0\u1edbc-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-716x600.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K\u00edch-th\u01b0\u1edbc-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K\u00edch-th\u01b0\u1edbc-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K\u00edch-th\u01b0\u1edbc-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u.jpg 940w\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61704\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Measuring only 1.5\u20134 cm, Drupella has a thick shell covered in sharp spines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This species is\u00a0<strong>most active at night.<\/strong>\u00a0Using a\u00a0<strong>tube-like mouthpart<\/strong>, Drupella\u00a0<strong>scrapes and feeds on live coral tissue<\/strong>, leaving behind\u00a0<strong>pale, exposed skeletons<\/strong>\u2014an\u00a0<strong>unmistakable sign of predation<\/strong>. When gathered in groups, they can strip an entire coral cluster\u00a0<strong>in a short time<\/strong>, especially on\u00a0<strong>fragile or environmentally stressed reefs.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61713\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61713\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-61713 lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/%E1%BB%90c-d%C3%A2u-t%E1%BA%ADp-trung-th%C3%A0nh-%C4%91%C3%A0n-t%E1%BA%A5n-c%C3%B4ng-san-h%C3%B4-porites-716x600.jpg\" alt=\"\u1ed0c D\u00e2u T\u1eadp Trung Th\u00e0nh \u0111\u00e0n T\u1ea5n C\u00f4ng San H\u00f4 Porites\" width=\"716\" height=\"600\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u1ed0c-d\u00e2u-t\u1eadp-trung-th\u00e0nh-\u0111\u00e0n-t\u1ea5n-c\u00f4ng-san-h\u00f4-porites-716x600.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u1ed0c-d\u00e2u-t\u1eadp-trung-th\u00e0nh-\u0111\u00e0n-t\u1ea5n-c\u00f4ng-san-h\u00f4-porites-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u1ed0c-d\u00e2u-t\u1eadp-trung-th\u00e0nh-\u0111\u00e0n-t\u1ea5n-c\u00f4ng-san-h\u00f4-porites-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u1ed0c-d\u00e2u-t\u1eadp-trung-th\u00e0nh-\u0111\u00e0n-t\u1ea5n-c\u00f4ng-san-h\u00f4-porites.jpg 940w\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61713\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drupella snails gather in group to attack Porites corals.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Drupella\u2019s\u00a0<strong>natural predators<\/strong>\u00a0include\u00a0<strong>Wrasses, Pufferfish, Triggerfish, Emperor fish, and some large crabs.<\/strong>\u00a0However, when these\u00a0<strong>predator populations decline<\/strong>\u00a0due to\u00a0<strong>overfishing<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0<strong>ecosystem imbalance,<\/strong>\u00a0Drupella can multiply rapidly\u2014leading to what scientists call a\u00a0<strong><i>Drupella outbreak<\/i>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61623\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61623\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-61623 lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C%C3%A1-m%C3%B3-716x600.jpg\" alt=\"C\u00e1 M\u00f3\" width=\"716\" height=\"600\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-716x600.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3.jpg 940w\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61623\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wrasses are among the natural predators of Drupella snails.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_When_Coral_Reefs_Grow_Weaker_%E2%80%93_Drupella_Takes_Over\"><\/span><span id=\"2_When_Coral_Reefs_Grow_Weaker_Drupella_Takes_Over\"><b>2. When Coral Reefs Grow Weaker \u2013 Drupella Takes Over<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>During OnBird\u2019s reef monitoring around Phu Quoc, our team encountered traces of Drupella presence. Normally, a healthy reef can tolerate small numbers of Drupella without significant damage. But when\u00a0<strong>environmental changes<\/strong>\u00a0occur\u2014warming seas, pollution, sedimentation, or coral bleaching\u2014<strong>the coral\u2019s protective mucus layer becomes weakened<\/strong>. This creates\u00a0<strong>ideal conditions<\/strong>\u00a0for Drupella to attach, reproduce quickly, and form dense aggregations.<\/p>\n<p><b>Drupella can feed on most coral species, but delicate branching corals such as\u00a0<\/b><b><i>Acropora<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/b><b><i>Pocillopora<\/i><\/b><b>\u00a0are among its preferred targets.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>In Phu Quoc, early signs of Drupella predation have been observed in areas involved in coral restoration projects\u2014such as\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/onbird-reports-encouraging-outcomes-from-phu-quoc-coral-nursery\/\">Coral Nursery<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/reef-regeneration-project-begins-at-coral-jungle-reef\/\">Transplantation Sites<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0managed by OnBird. While the damage has not yet escalated,\u00a0<strong>Drupella could become a serious threat<\/strong>\u00a0to young, developing coral colonies if not addressed in time.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-1\" class=\"gallery galleryid-61594 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full\">\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/doi-ngu-onbird-phat-hien-oc-dau-tai-ran-san-ho-3\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/%C4%90%E1%BB%99i-ng%C5%A9-Onbird-ph%C3%A1t-hi%E1%BB%87n-%E1%BB%91c-d%C3%A2u-t%E1%BA%A1i-r%E1%BA%A1n-san-h%C3%B4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-61663\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-1-61663\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Drupella could become a serious threat to young, developing coral colonies if not addressed in time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/doi-ngu-onbird-phat-hien-oc-dau-tai-ran-san-ho-2-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/%C4%90%E1%BB%99i-ng%C5%A9-Onbird-ph%C3%A1t-hi%E1%BB%87n-%E1%BB%91c-d%C3%A2u-t%E1%BA%A1i-r%E1%BA%A1n-san-h%C3%B4-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-2.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-61654\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-2.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-2-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ph\u00e1t-hi\u1ec7n-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-san-h\u00f4-2-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-1-61654\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Drupella could become a serious threat to young, developing coral colonies if not addressed in time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Early detection and population control<\/strong>\u00a0are therefore\u00a0<strong>essential parts of OnBird\u2019s routine reef monitoring efforts<\/strong>\u2014helping protect the Coral Nursery and maintain ecological balance across the restoration zones.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Drupella_Control_Efforts_at_OnBird_Phu_Quoc\"><\/span><span id=\"3_Drupella_Control_Efforts_at_OnBird_Phu_Quoc\"><b>3. Drupella Control Efforts at OnBird Phu Quoc<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regular_surveys_and_monitoring\"><\/span><span id=\"Regular_surveys_and_monitoring\"><b>Regular surveys and monitoring<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Our team is trained to\u00a0<strong>quickly identify<\/strong>\u00a0Drupella signs and assess their density during reef surveys. These observations are recorded regularly to track population trends and pinpoint areas at risk of outbreaks.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-2\" class=\"gallery galleryid-61594 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-full\">\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/doi-ngu-onbird-kiem-soat-oc-dau-tai-ran-3\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/%C4%90%E1%BB%99i-ng%C5%A9-Onbird-ki%E1%BB%83m-so%C3%A1t-%E1%BB%91c-d%C3%A2u-t%E1%BA%A1i-r%E1%BA%A1n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-61645\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-2-61645\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">OnBird team\u2019s regular surveys and monitoring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/doi-ngu-onbird-kiem-soat-oc-dau-tai-ran-2-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/%C4%90%E1%BB%99i-ng%C5%A9-Onbird-ki%E1%BB%83m-so%C3%A1t-%E1%BB%91c-d%C3%A2u-t%E1%BA%A1i-r%E1%BA%A1n-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-2.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-61636\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-2.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-2-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/\u0110\u1ed9i-ng\u0169-Onbird-ki\u1ec3m-so\u00e1t-\u1ed1c-d\u00e2u-t\u1ea1i-r\u1ea1n-2-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-2-61636\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">OnBird team\u2019s regular surveys and monitoring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/khao-sat-va-giam-sat-dinh-ky-3\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh%E1%BA%A3o-s%C3%A1t-v%C3%A0-gi%C3%A1m-s%C3%A1t-%C4%91%E1%BB%8Bnh-k%E1%BB%B3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-61699\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-2-61699\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Onbird tean\u2019s regular surveys and monitoring<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Careful_manual_removal\"><\/span><span id=\"Careful_manual_removal\"><b>Careful, manual removal<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When Drupella densities exceed safe thresholds, our divers conduct manual removal. This requires advanced skill, as the snails often hide deep within coral branches. The goal is to remove them completely while minimizing disturbance to young or fragile coral structures.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-3\" class=\"gallery galleryid-61594 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full\">\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/khao-sat-va-giam-sat-dinh-ky-2-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh%E1%BA%A3o-s%C3%A1t-v%C3%A0-gi%C3%A1m-s%C3%A1t-%C4%91%E1%BB%8Bnh-k%E1%BB%B3-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-2.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-61690\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-2.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-2-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Kh\u1ea3o-s\u00e1t-v\u00e0-gi\u00e1m-s\u00e1t-\u0111\u1ecbnh-k\u1ef3-2-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-3-61690\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">Drupella snails are collected by the OnBird team at the reef.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/thu-gom-thu-cong-giam-thieu-tac-dong-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Thu-gom-th%E1%BB%A7-c%C3%B4ng-%E2%80%93-gi%E1%BA%A3m-thi%E1%BB%83u-t%C3%A1c-%C4%91%E1%BB%99ng.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Thu-gom-th\u1ee7-c\u00f4ng-\u2013-gi\u1ea3m-thi\u1ec3u-t\u00e1c-\u0111\u1ed9ng.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-61726\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Thu-gom-th\u1ee7-c\u00f4ng-\u2013-gi\u1ea3m-thi\u1ec3u-t\u00e1c-\u0111\u1ed9ng.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Thu-gom-th\u1ee7-c\u00f4ng-\u2013-gi\u1ea3m-thi\u1ec3u-t\u00e1c-\u0111\u1ed9ng-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Thu-gom-th\u1ee7-c\u00f4ng-\u2013-gi\u1ea3m-thi\u1ec3u-t\u00e1c-\u0111\u1ed9ng-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-3-61726\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">They are then discarded at nearby beaches.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Protecting_predators_and_maintaining_a_healthy_food_chain\"><\/span><span id=\"Protecting_predators_and_maintaining_a_healthy_food_chain\"><b>Protecting predators and maintaining a healthy food chain<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>An essential part of Drupella control is protecting its natural predators\u2014especially Wrasses and Triggerfish. OnBird encourages visitors\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/dont-feed-the-fish-on-snorkeling-diving\/\">not to feed or disturb reef fish<\/a>\u00a0and never to harvest\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/alert-no-killing-parrot-fish-the-fish-shapes-the-reef-save-phu-quoc\/\">species that play a key ecological role.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>By helping guests understand the function of each organism\u2014including those perceived as harmful\u2014we foster deeper appreciation and more responsible interaction with the ocean.<\/p>\n<div id=\"gallery-4\" class=\"gallery galleryid-61594 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-full\">\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/ca-mo-2-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C%C3%A1-m%C3%B3-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-2.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-61609\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-2.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-2-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-2-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-4-61609\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">OnBird encourages visitors not to feed or disturb reef fish and never to harvest species that play a key ecological role.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"gallery-item\">\n<div class=\"gallery-icon landscape\"><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/ca-mo-3-2\/#main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"attachment-full size-full lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C%C3%A1-m%C3%B3-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-3.jpg\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-61618\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-3.jpg 940w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-3-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/C\u00e1-m\u00f3-3-768x644.jpg 768w\" \/><\/a><\/div><figcaption id=\"gallery-4-61618\" class=\"wp-caption-text gallery-caption\">OnBird encourages visitors not to feed or disturb reef fish and never to harvest species that play a key ecological role.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><b>| Caution:\u00a0<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/jellyfish-season-in-phu-quoc-island-what-you-need-to-bear-in-mind\/\"><b>Jellyfish Season In Phu Quoc Island \u2013 What You Need To Bear In Mind?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Working_Toward_Natural_Balance\"><\/span><span id=\"4_Working_Toward_Natural_Balance\"><b>4. Working Toward Natural Balance<\/b><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Drupella is not the \u201cenemy\u201d of the sea. In a healthy ecosystem, they are part of the natural cycle of coral growth and decomposition. It is only when the environment becomes imbalanced\u2014weak coral, loss of predators, or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/phu-quoc-is-now-undergoing-a-serious-coral-bleaching-event\/\">rising sea temperatures<\/a>\u2014that Drupella turns into a threat.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61677\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61677\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-61677 lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Bng-%C4%91%E1%BA%BFn-s%E1%BB%B1-c%C3%A2n-b%E1%BA%B1ng-t%E1%BB%B1-nhi%C3%AAn-716x600.jpg\" alt=\"H\u01b0\u1edbng \u0111\u1ebfn S\u1ef1 C\u00e2n B\u1eb1ng T\u1ef1 Nhi\u00ean\" width=\"716\" height=\"600\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-716x600.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean.jpg 940w\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Drupella snails are not harmful invaders; they play a role in the natural cycle of coral growth and decomposition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This is why every small effort matters \u2014 from simple\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/tips-for-responsible-snorkeling-in-phu-quoc-island\/\">safety reminders<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/water-conditions-forecasting-in-snorkeling-diving-in-phu-quoc-island\/\">daily sea-weather monitoring<\/a>, and careful\u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/safety-management-in-onbirds-discovery-snorkeling-tours\/\">risk management<\/a>\u00a0to the awareness each visitor brings \u2014 collectively make a meaningful difference. Together, they help sustain a more balanced, resilient, and vibrant ocean.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_61668\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-61668\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-61668 lazy-load-active\" src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H%C6%B0%E1%BB%9Bng-%C4%91%E1%BA%BFn-s%E1%BB%B1-c%C3%A2n-b%E1%BA%B1ng-t%E1%BB%B1-nhi%C3%AAn-2-716x600.jpg\" alt=\"H\u01b0\u1edbng \u0111\u1ebfn S\u1ef1 C\u00e2n B\u1eb1ng T\u1ef1 Nhi\u00ean (2)\" width=\"716\" height=\"600\" data-src=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-2-716x600.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-2-716x600.jpg 716w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-2-768x644.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onbird.vn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/H\u01b0\u1edbng-\u0111\u1ebfn-s\u1ef1-c\u00e2n-b\u1eb1ng-t\u1ef1-nhi\u00ean-2.jpg 940w\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-61668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Join OnBird in our efforts to restore ocean life and bring back the balance of nature.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><b>We hope this article provides you with a deeper and more interesting perspective on the ocean. Follow\u00a0<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/onbirdtrip\/\"><b>OnBird \u2013 Soft-Adventure Journeys<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0to discover more marine species that keep Phu Quoc\u2019s underwater world alive and ever-evolving!<\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\"blog-share text-center\">\n<div class=\"social-icons share-icons share-row relative\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the diverse world of the ocean, every species plays its own role in maintaining ecological balance.\u00a0However, when a species grows beyond its natural threshold, it can quickly turn into a threat to the entire ecosystem. The\u00a0Drupella cornus snail\u2014small and unassuming\u2014is a clear example. Despite its tiny size, this\u00a0coral-eating snail\u00a0can cause serious damage to coral<a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/en\/drupella-cornus-the-silent-coral-predator-of-phu-quoc\/\">&#8230;[Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1059,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1243,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions\/1243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/1059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dtabeam.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}