Hawksbill turtles are experts at finding food in coral reefs and rocky seabeds. Their narrow beak is perfect for reaching into cracks in rocks to find sponges, which are their favourite food. By eating sponges, hawksbill turtles help keep coral reefs healthy, because sponges would otherwise crowd out the coral.
Female hawksbill turtles return to the same beach where they were born to lay their own eggs – even if that beach is thousands of kilometres away. They swim enormous distances across the ocean, guided by the Earth's magnetic field, to find their home beach. In Qatar, they nest on secluded stretches of coastline away from bright lights and noise.
Qatar's conservation teams patrol nesting beaches at night to protect the eggs and guide the hatchlings safely to the sea. Baby turtles are tiny – about the size of your hand – and use the glow of moonlight on the water to find the sea. Street lighting can confuse them, so protective measures around nesting beaches help them stay on track.