The first green sea turtle of the season digs a nest near a beach pavillon at Torii Station, Okinawa, May 29, 2024. (U.S. Army)

TORII STATION, Okinawa — A 100-million-year-old reproductive ritual continued this week at this small Army installation on Okinawa’s western coast.

A green sea turtle crawled ashore early Wednesday at Torii Beach, methodically dug a hole next to a Morale, Welfare and Recreation pavilion and went to work laying and burying her eggs in the sand.

All 90 eggs in the mother-to-be’s nest — the first of the season for Torii Beach — were relocated to a darker area to avoid light pollution, the garrison announced on its Facebook page Thursday evening.

“Light and noise disturb nesting activities of female sea turtles and hatchlings,” the post said.

Green sea turtle eggs are collected for relocation on the beach at Torii Station, Okinawa, May 29, 2024. (U.S. Army)

The egg relocation was handled by a group of biologists led by Yu Nakanishi from the Sea Turtle Association of Japan.

The garrison did not immediately respond to an email asking if there have been other eggs laid since Wednesday and how many sea turtle nests were laid last year.

Tracks from the season's first green sea turtle were still visible on the beach at Torii Station, Okinawa, May 31, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

Orange cones surround the green sea turtle relocation nest at Torii Beach on Torii Station, Okinawa, May 31, 2024. (Keishi Koja/Stars and Stripes)

The garrison’s Facebook post reminded beachgoers that green sea turtles are an at-risk species and listed some steps they can take to help protect them:

Don’t disturb or erase sea turtle tracks, which serve as markers for the monitoring team.

Avoid driving near the nest relocation site in Torii Beach’s southern area. Also, do not allow pets to disturb the nests.

“Touching, harvesting, and trapping sea turtles, hatchlings and eggs are also prohibited by the Okinawa Prefectural Government unless permitted,” the garrison said.