Acropora returning from the dead

[Reefglide]

I recently a month ago removed a very aggressive colony. All that was left were skeletal remains from incrustation. Today I noticed it is coloring up and birthing polyps. Has anyone experienced this? There was zero zooxanthellae left after the surgery. Just curious if any of you pros can explain.

 

[Perry]

It's possible, this one back in August, presumed dead :)

But here it is recently:

 

[KrisReef]

Global warming. Happens all the time.

 

[Arricefe]

Definitely not a pro but I read this somewhere “if there’s a bit there’s hope”.

 

[Reefglide]

It's possible, this one back in August, presumed dead :)

But here it is recently:

Quite the come back.

 

[PatW]

Seemingly dead corals can resurrect. I guess some polyps just fold up and go dormant when the coral is stressed. If conditions come back to their liking, they become active.

 

[Reefglide]

I’ve had many return from near death. In this case I cut all branches then used garden hand shears as well as dikes to cut encrustations from rock. Next I cleaned with a wire brush. Any skeletal remains were from deep within the skeleton. Hoping someone could possibly give a scientific explanation of how deep zooxanthella exist within coral skeleton.
Thanks for the comments.