A breath away from registering a new world record on the years of known active reproduction of a loggerhead sea turtle is ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece
This is the year when ARCHELON, a nonprofit environmental NGO, is celebrating 40 years of continuous and targeted action to save sea turtles in Greece and the Mediterranean. At the same time, the project team of ARCHELON on Zakynthos are ready to register the longest period of active reproduction known for the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), in case it happens this year!
The "champion" turtle with code B2494 was tagged in 1986 on the island of Zakynthos by trained ARCHELON volunteers, who since then have been systematically recording every time she came ashore to lay her eggs. In the summer of 2022 this turtle was located nesting again in Zakynthos, marking 36 years of continuous nesting, equaling the world record for the species, which has been recorded for a loggerhead turtle in Florida, USA. This achievement comes to certify the reliable long-term scientific effort of ARCHELON, the nonprofit environmental NGO who systematically monitor and record important data on sea turtle nesting in Greece.
It is known that sea turtles live for a long time but we do not know exactly how many years. We also do not know how many years they are actively reproducing. Tagging is a method of identifying and registering the turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs each year on the beach, so there is a reliable metric.
In case the 2023 team of ARCHELON volunteers record the same turtle nesting again in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, there will be a new world record set, highlighting the great importance of the population that is systematically monitored on the island of Zakynthos for the past 40 years.
ARCHELON has been running the tagging program with the help of trained volunteers since the early 1980s in Zakynthos and Kyparissia Bay. It works like this: two tags are placed on each turtle, so than in case one gets damaged, it can still be replaced, keeping the identity of the turtle on the basis of the second one. In the past many turtles have had both their plastic or metal tags destroyed, leading to the loss of their original identity.
In 2019, the scientific team of ARCHELON did a search of the database of tags that had been placed on turtles over the years and found some turtles that had been laying nests for over 20 years. Two of them were the "champions" with 33 years of reproductive life. In the summer of 2022, one of the "champions", with code B2494, made a nest again in Zakynthos and thus completed 36 years of nesting, equaling the world record.
It is worth noting that the turtle B2494, like several others in Zakynthos, Kyparissia Bay and Rethymno, has now also been marked with an electronic signal (PIT tag), which is permanent and thus its identity is not lost.
Even more energized, the members and volunteers of ARCHELON from Greece and dozens of other countries, continue the tagging program in Zakynthos, Kyparissia Bay and Rethymno, hoping to witness the breaking of the world record in reproduction years, contributing to the international effort to understand the Loggerhead’s life cycle and its protection.
For more information about volunteering with ARCHELON on Zakynthos, check out this link https://archelon.gr/en/volunteer/project-areas/zakynthos-laganas-bay
To find out more about the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre and its educational activities, check out this link https://archelon.gr/en/project-areas/glyfada-sea-turtle-rescue-centre
The nesting season has begun! Learn what you can do if you find sea turtle tracks or nests on the beach
A Saturday unlike any other - Turtle Festival 2023
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS14/10/2024
2025 Projects: Is it your turn to save the sea turtles?
ARCHELON is thrilled to announce the volunteering projects for 2025. If you're passionate about nature conservation and eager to make a positive impact, we invite you to join our dedicated team of volunteers.
- OUR NEWS30/09/2024
Reunite with Your Passion: Become an ARCHELON Ambassador!
Are you passionate about sea turtle conservation and want to make a positive impact on their survival? Becoming an ARCHELON ambassador is a fantastic way to contribute to this important cause.
- OUR NEWS27/09/2024
Transforming Rethymno: Sustainable tourism opportunities with the sea turtle as ambassador
With sea turtles as its ambassadors, Rethymno has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable tourism. By offering responsible ecotourism experiences, the tourism industry can create a legion of passionate advocates for ocean conservation.
- OUR NEWS18/09/2024
Counting the Loggerhead nests in Zakynthos - the work of an army of ants
For the past 41+ years, ARCHELON has been counting annually nests laid by loggerhead turtles on the island of Zakynthos, one of most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS17/09/2024
Successful wrap up of Amvrakikos project for 2024 marking two decades of dedicated work
ARCHELON is a beacon of hope for sea turtles in Greece's Amvrakikos Gulf. From rescuing injured turtles to monitoring their population characteristics and their migration patterns, ARCHELON's work has been contributing to the survival of these protected animals for the last 20 years.
- OUR NEWS09/09/2024
Educational Programs 2024-2025: Inspire the Next Generation of Conservationists with ARCHELON!
Last year, 15,000 students arrived at the Rescue Centre and were fascinated by the wonders of sea turtle conservation.
- OUR NEWS02/09/2024
LIFE MareNatura Marine Conservation School: ARCHELON and NECCA train staff to protect sea turtles
This pioneer Training Seminar titled "Management and protection of the Caretta caretta and Chelonia mydas species" was designed with the aim of transferring special and necessary knowledge for the protection of the sea turtles from the competent bodies.
- OUR NEWS30/08/2024
Local Resort leads the way in protecting Zakynthos' sea turtles
In the summer of 2023, Domes Aulus Zante, Autograph Collection Resort stepped forward to support ARCHELON's mission adopting 70 turtle nests!
- OUR NEWS27/08/2024
ARCHELON Launches Comprehensive Study to Protect Sea Turtle Nesting Sites
- OUR NEWS05/08/2024
A Major Leap for Sea Turtle Conservation: Tracking Loggerheads Across the Mediterranean
Last month our team successfully completed the attachment of satellite transmitters to 20 individuals found near the beaches of west and south Peloponnese as well as those of Crete.
- OUR NEWS31/07/2024
Urgent Call for Volunteers: Are you looking for a meaningful adventure? Join in to save sea turtle hatchlings!
We’re urgently seeking volunteers to help protect sea turtles in Greece during August and September. Come and help the hatchlings reach the sea! ARCHELON will offer discounts to the first 50 volunteers who sign up now for the projects.
- OUR NEWS29/07/2024
Help Hatchlings Reach the Sea: Keep Nesting Beaches Dark for Sea Turtles!
Vacationing on a beautiful Greek beach with a sea view? You can be a hero for baby sea turtles!
- OUR NEWS15/07/2024
Ecotourism in Peloponnese and Crete: Explore a Loggerhead sea turtle nesting beach
ARCHELON offers a unique ecological experience for the lucky and aware travelers who will find themselves this summer on important Loggerhead sea turtle nesting beaches that the Association protects.
- OUR NEWS26/06/2024
Sea Turtles Surprise us: if you see tracks on the beach, help ARCHELON's research!
Not all beaches on Greece's extensive coastline are suitable for sea turtle nesting, but sometimes these marine reptiles surprise us! This summer, ARCHELON is asking for your help to investigate a phenomenon called "sporadic nesting".
- OUR NEWS17/06/2024
ATTENTION! Sea turtles are not pets: Do not touch them or feed them!
In areas where a sea turtle associates human presence with food, it’s behavior changes. The turtle treats humans as well as other turtles as competitors in its feeding grounds and tries to drive them away with bites.