'Shocking' mass bleaching drains life from Australian reef

A months-long marine heatwave had "cooked" the sprawling Ningaloo Reef, ocean scientist Kate Quigley said, part of a world heritage-listed marine park renowned for vibrant corals and migrating whale sharks. Although environment officials were still verifying the scale of damage, Quigley said it was on track to be the region's worst mass-bleaching event in years. "Warm oceans have just cooked the corals this year," Quigley told AFP. "It wouldn't be amiss to throw in the word 'unprecedented'. "It has gone deep...