Lebanon's turtle advocate Mona Khalil dies after Israeli attack

Mona Khalil, a dedicated Lebanese marine ecologist who spent more than two decades protecting endangered turtle species in southern Lebanon, has died. She succumbed to wounds sustained last week when an Israeli strike hit her home near Tyre.

Khalil, 77, passed away on Friday, the same day Israel intensified its air attacks on southern Lebanon. Local environmental group Live Love Tyre announced her passing with deep sadness, remembering her through an "incredible legacy" and a life devoted to caring for the turtles.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1949, Khalil moved to southern Lebanon after living abroad for several years. A pivotal moment occurred in 1999 when she encountered a turtle laying eggs on al-Mansouri beach near Tyre. This encounter inspired her lifelong commitment to conservation.

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It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Mona Khalil today. She will be remembered through an incredible legacy. Through it all, Mona chose to stay and care for the turtles of Live Love Tyre. Her life was selfless and impactful.

She dedicated decades to protecting the nesting sites of loggerhead and green sea turtles along Lebanon's southern coast. Both species face significant threats from coastal development, plastic pollution, fishing nets, and light pollution, placing them at risk of extinction in the eastern Mediterranean.

In 2000, Khalil co-established the Orange House, an eco-tourism initiative located at al-Mansouri beach. She also contributed to documenting marine life in southern Lebanon and actively advocated for wildlife protection and against coastal pollution. Journalist and volunteer Fadia Joumaa, who worked closely with Khalil, described her death as a loss not just for their organization but for all of Lebanon, honoring the life she so faithfully guarded.

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You have left us yet you remain within us – we, your children. Khalil’s death is a loss for all of Lebanon… not just for us. A loss for the life you guarded so faithfully.