Near Ras Hankorab in Egypt, endangered green turtles swim in coral gardens that are very resilient to climate change. By night in nesting season, they crawl ashore under the Milky Way’s glow, undisturbed by artificial lights.
But a tourism deal is now threatening one of the Red Sea’s natural shorelines where people swim with sea turtles.
When excavators arrived on the sand in March, reserve staff and conservationists raised concerns.
Thousands signed a petition to “Save Hankorab” after learning about a deal between a government agency and a company to build a resort. The environment ministry protested, construction was halted, and the machinery was quietly removed.
But months later, insiders say the plans remain alive.
When construction was reported in March, a member of the House of Representatives of Egypt, Maha Abdel Nasser, sought answers from the environment ministry and the prime minister – but received no response.
Construction is still halted, “which is reassuring, at least for now”, Abdel Nasser said. “But there are no guarantees about the future.”
