This summer, two adult loggerhead sea turtles, ‘Aktaia’ and ‘Herbert’, arrived at ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Centre needing urgent help after sustaining severe head injuries. Their rescue became a powerful testament to the dedication of many people, and their journey back to health highlights the resilience of these ancient marine reptiles.

The First Responders: Aktaia’s Journey from Alexandroupoli

The effort to save ‘Aktaia’, a female adult loggerhead, began immediately when she was found in Alexandroupoli on June 18th. She had a serious head injury and her condition was critical.

Thanks to the swift intervention of Julia Grammenidou’s veterinary clinic, she received crucial first aid. With the valuable support of Aegean Airlines, Aktaia was carefully transported by plane to Athens and admitted to the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada to begin her road to recovery.

Coordinated Care: The Rescue of Herbert in Crete

Just a month later, on July 17th, ‘Herbert’, an adult male loggerhead, was found on Voulisma Beach in Crete with a very deep head wound.

His rescue was a model of quick, coordinated effort. ARCHELON’s dedicated volunteers from the Chania Project rapidly mobilized, ensuring Herbert was safely transferred to the Rescue Centre for specialized, urgent care.

The Power of Persistence: The Healing Process Begins

Sadly, many of the turtles admitted to our Centre each year have suffered intentional harm. Both ‘Aktaia’ and ‘Herbert’ required an intensive, focused regimen of daily care. The rehabilitation team poured countless hours into providing constant care, medication, frequent wound treatments, and round-the-clock monitoring to give these magnificent creatures a second chance at life.

Because sea turtles have a naturally slow metabolism, recovery typically takes time. However, the specialized medical environment, very frequent wound care, and innovative oxygenation therapy provided at the Rescue Centre significantly accelerated their healing process.

“Herbert had one of the deepest wounds I have ever seen in nine years of treating sea turtles,” said Eirini Kasimati, ARCHELON’s Rehabilitation and Welfare Officer. “He was very lucky as the injury was right next to his brain and thankfully there was no brain damage. Both Aktaia and Herbert made a very fast and remarkable recovery, and I couldn’t be happier about it.”

Ready for the Wild: The Successful Release

After months of expert treatment, the turtles were strong enough to move to the larger rehabilitation tanks for final monitoring—the final step before their release. During the preparation, they received microchips and tags for future identification, along with careful measurements and photos.

There was some concern about ‘Aktaia’s’ sensitive nature, but when the moment finally arrived, she moved smoothly and without hesitation back into the sea. A week later, ‘Herbert’, also made a safe and successful return to his natural environment.

The successful journey of ‘Aktaia’ and ‘Herbert’ is a powerful illustration of what can be achieved when people dedicate themselves to wildlife protection. Each rescue and release is a tangible result of persistence, care, and cooperation, reminding us that conservation is built on everyday actions and shared responsibility.

Safe travels, ‘Aktaia’ and ‘Herbert’.

May the sea always be kind to you.

ARCHELON would like to express its heartfelt thanks to veterinarian Julia Grammenidou, a dedicated member of the ARION Vets Network and the Wildlife Rescue Scout Group, for providing immediate first aid to Aktaia at her clinic. We are also deeply grateful to Aegean Airlines for the swift transport of the animal from Alexandroupoli to Athens.

This important work is supported by the Green Fund, through the project “Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration of Sea Turtles into Their Natural Environment in 2025.” The funding of €86,000, provided under the Green Fund’s program “Natural Environment & Climate Resilience 2025” and specifically under Priority Axis 1: Protection of the Natural Environment – Climate Resilience & Related Actions, ensures the continued operation of the ARCHELON Rescue Centre throughout 2025.