Mourners gather to remember Lebanese conservationist killed by Israel
Summary
Mona Khalil, a well-known Lebanese conservationist who protected sea turtles along Lebanon’s southern coast, died from wounds caused by an Israeli strike on her home. Mourners gathered in Beirut to honor her life and work.Key Facts
- Mona Khalil was 77 years old and spent over 20 years protecting sea turtles in Lebanon.
- She was critically injured in an Israeli strike on June 4 in al-Mansouri village, Tyre province, and died more than two weeks later.
- Khalil helped create the Orange House Project, a conservation and ecotourism site that protects endangered turtles and trains volunteers.
- She was born in Nigeria in 1949, held both Dutch and Lebanese citizenship, and lived in the Netherlands before returning to Lebanon.
- Khalil started her conservation work after spotting a turtle nesting on al-Mansouri beach in 1999.
- She and volunteers worked each nesting season to protect turtle nests from threats like human activity and light pollution.
- During a 2024 war between Israel and Hezbollah, Khalil was persuaded by the Lebanese army to evacuate for safety.
- It is unclear where Khalil will be buried because of ongoing security concerns in the region.
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