On 16 September 2015, at least 24 hatchling green turtles died in an bonfire on a beach in South Sound.

According to DoE Research Officer Janice Blumenthal, “When they emerge from their nests, hatchling turtles move in the direction of the brightest light they can see. If this is not the moon and stars reflecting off the ocean’s surface, they often crawl in the wrong direction, away from the sea. In this case, the turtles were most likely initially disoriented by residential lights on the beach and then by the glowing embers of a bonfire. They appear to have been killed by the heat of the fire.”

Bonfires require approval from the Department of Environmental Health (DEH). The fire involved in the current incident had not received a permit.

DoE urges members of the public to apply for permission for any fire by contacting DEH at 949-6696, never leave any fire unattended, and ensure that fires are fully extinguished before leaving. Any questions on turtle nesting or turtle friendly lighting should be directed to DoE at 949-8469 or to the DoE’s Sea Turtle Hotline at 938-NEST (938-6378).