Lehmesa: Return by Moonlight: More About the Exhibition

Sea turtles are ancient reptiles that spend most of their lives in the sea. They return to land only to nest, guided by the moon. Along Qatar's shores, the Hawksbill links land and sea, reminding us that life here depends on both.

This exhibition explores their history and biology. It follows the Hawksbill's life cycle across sand and sea. It reveals the challenges they face today and the efforts to protect them. Step inside and discover how we can secure the Hawksbill's future.

Turtles Through Space and Time

Turtles are among the oldest animals on Earth. This section explores their evolution across more than 200 million years, revealing how they adapted to survive dramatic changes in climate and environment.

Meet Qatar's Sea Turtles!

Follow the Sea Turtles

Sea turtles are born travellers. From the moment a hatchling takes its first crawl across the sand, it begins an incredible lifelong journey. Hidden inside the Earth is the secret to their navigation, a magnetic field that acts like an invisible map.

Turtles can sense the strength and angle of this magnetic field, using it as a natural GPS to find their way through vast oceans. Young turtles use this built-in compass to reach safer offshore waters, while adults follow invisible "magnetic roads" that lead them back to the same region where their lives began. In the Arabian Gulf, hawksbill and green turtles make seasonal journeys between feeding and nesting sites, moving through the warm, shallow waters that connect Qatar to neighbouring coasts.

Hawksbill on the Land

In this section of the exhibition, learn how protecting beaches helps protect the Hawksbill.

Every Hawksbill begins life on the beach. From April to June, the female crawls ashore and digs a nest in the sand to lay her eggs. Qatar's sandy beaches give her the safe space she needs.

Weeks later, from late May to July, the hatchlings dig upwards, typically in groups. They race toward the sea under moonlight.

On Qatar's coasts, this fragile cycle happens each year. But predators and human disturbances on land can make the journey to the sea more difficult.

Beneath the Sand

Beneath Qatar's warm coastal sands, around 80–100 hawksbill turtle eggs rest in a hidden nest about 40–60 cm deep. For nearly two months (40–60 days), the eggs incubate in layers of sand that trap heat and moisture, creating a delicate balance for life to grow. Sunlight, air temperature, and even the colour of the sand change how warm the nest becomes. If it gets too hot, development slows or stops; too cool, and the embryos may not grow well.

In Qatar, beach sands can reach 28–32 °C, among the warmest nesting conditions anywhere in the world. Through this interactive test how different beach conditions, shade, tide level and heat affect the temperature inside a hawksbill nest and see how even small changes in the environment shape what happens beneath the sand.

Frenzy to Sea

After about two months under the warm sand, tiny Hawksbill hatchlings begin to move.

Working together, they dig their way to the surface until the sand starts to shake. When night falls and the beach cools, the hatchlings burst out and race toward the sea. Their journey across the beach is very important.

It helps them remember this place so they can return here as adults to lay their own eggs. Each hatchling carries a small yolk sac inside its body that gives it energy for the long crawl and first swim. On the way to the water, they face many challenges. Crabs, birds, and bright lights can all confuse or catch them.

Only a few will make it to the waves. When at sea, sea turtle hatchlings go through a phase called "frenzy" during which they swim in the seawater virtually nonstop.

Hawksbill in the Sea

This section explores the reef and the life it supports. Through the Hawksbill’s journey, it reveals how sea turtles and other marine creatures depend on healthy underwater habitats.

The Hawksbill spends most of its life in the ocean. It swims slowly through coral reefs, rests in rocky shelters, and searches for food. This simple routine keeps the reef in balance and helps other creatures survive.

Untangle the Hawksbill

Qatar is home to one-third of the coral reefs in the Arabian Gulf. These reefs are home to many sea creatures, from tiny fish to giant sharks and whales. But warmer seas, pollution, and fishing have harmed these reefs. Today, more than 50 percent of Qatar's coral reefs are bleached or destroyed, and some can no longer grow. With care and protection, healthy corals can return, and the reef can thrive again.

Discover The Reef

Coral Reefs of Qatar

Let's Protect the Sea Turtles

The Hawksbill's story does not end here. After millions of years of survival, its future now depends on us.

In Qatar, scientists and communities are working to protect turtles and their habitats. From safeguarding nesting beaches to rescuing turtles from nets, every effort matters.