ARCHELON has been running a special hospital for sea turtles with tanks and impressive old train wagons for 30 years in Glyfada
It was 1994 when ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, managed to set up this model Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada. The need for its creation arose as a natural result of ARCHELON’s work, as many of our fellow citizens every year were asking for instructions and help for the injured turtles they encountered on the coasts or at sea.
Its opening was made possible with the decisive assistance of the then Mayor of Glyfada, the late Theodoros Spondylidis, who granted the necessary space at the 3rd Marina, as the proximity to seawater was key for the treatment of marine animals. However, the rescue volunteers of ARCHELON needed a place protected from the weather to work and spend the night near the injured animals. A creative solution had to be found. This was none other than the old train wagons that were donated by OSE and gave a special character to the premises!
"Back then there were only two wagons at the Rescue Centre and a turtle with a hook in its mouth in a plastic children's pool about 50 cm in diameter," recalls Tom Scott, the first foreign volunteer of the Rescue Centre. "We bathed with the hose, while we had to carry water from the sea for the turtles with buckets. A large part of the work we did was building and painting the facility to make it the place it is today. The first wagon was used for the environmental education programme and the other as an office, a laboratory and a dorm. Soon we had outdoor tanks and clean water from a pump and we were all very excited about these changes”, he adds.
Over the years the Rescue Centre continued to change and pioneer. This model unit, which is now among the most important in the world, very recently, thanks to the relevant legislation that was established, was licensed and operates as one of the first Wildlife Care Centers in our country. Today, the animals under care are no longer accommodated in improvised swimming pools, but in 42 special rehabilitation and preparation tanks with state-of-the-art pumps that filter, renew and heat the seawater. Thus, more than 1300 animals have been accommodated and received treatment in our facilities!
The Centre's facilities include 7 train wagons used for offices, food preparation facilities, volunteer dormitories, a gift shop, and a warehouse. The latest renovation at the Rescue Centre was done in collaboration with CMA CGM, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions. We are grateful for this partnership, and with their support, the complete renovation of one of the old wagons was made possible. The new space now hosts three offices and a space for presentations, meetings and training!
The multi-level educational and entertaining experience of touring the Rescue Centre has made it a point of interest for schools and visitors from all over the world who want to see the treated animals up close and be informed about the problems they face. Great value is also given to the Rescue Centre through the experience of volunteers from Greece and many other countries, who help inform the visitors and care for the turtles.
Learn how you can visit the Rescue Centre with your school, family or friends, and how you too can become an ARCHELON volunteer.
Why are ARCHELON’s projects international?
What happened in the world of ARCHELON in 2023?
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS26/04/2024
Protecting sea turtles in Rethymno- Our Ocean, an Ocean of Potential
The 9th International Conference "Our Ocean", which was held in Athens from April 15 to 17, was successfully completed. ARCHELON had the honor to actively take part in the conference and hosted a side event.
- OUR NEWS12/04/2024
Coordination for the protection of sea turtles in Rethymno: Local authorities and tourism businesses join forces
The meeting, which took place on April 5, 2024, in the building of the Regional Unit of Rethymno, touched upon key issues, such as the observance of conservation measures for the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle. Given the tourist activity on the nesting beaches, the active participation of the tourism sector in the implementation of the measures is necessary.
- OUR NEWS10/04/2024
"Tourists and turtles?" The environmental awareness campaign of ARCHELON spreads to the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead sea turtle
After the pandemic, ARCHELON - the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece - is once again mobilizing on the path to sustainable tourism. The aim of the new campaign is to provide information on the appropriate code of conduct for visitors to all nesting beaches, in cooperation with the tourism sector.
- OUR NEWS04/04/2024
LIFE MareNatura - The largest marine biodiversity program in Greece
- OUR NEWS03/04/2024
Citizens inform us of sea turtle strandings
ARCHELON started the effort to record the incidents of dead turtles washing up on the Greek shores in 1992. In recent years there has been an increase in these records which may be due to more of our fellow citizens reporting such incidents. Learn more…
- OUR NEWS19/03/2024
Contributing to international developments on sea turtle research and conservation
In the past, members of ARCHELON were actively involved in the elaboration of the Global Strategy for the Conservation of Marine Turtles, published in 1995, and nowadays three of our collaborators participate in the writing of the revised guidebook “Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles”.
- OUR NEWS08/03/2024
The Over & Above Awards for 2023
These are the ARCHELON Over & Above Awards for 2023.
- OUR NEWS04/03/2024
The moving experience of Frederique at the Rescue Centre
At ARCHELON, you'll have the opportunity to meet and work together with new people and form lasting friendships - a major benefit of volunteering.
- OUR NEWS29/02/2024
Presentation of ARCHELON 2023 Results: Here is some good news!
On Thursday February 15th, 2024, ARCHELON’s annual Presentation of Results took place downtown, at the Impact Hub Athens. When welcoming members, staff, collaborators, friends and volunteers, Daphne Mavrogiorgos, Director of ARCHELON, spoke about the multi-leveled action of ARCHELON during 2023.
- OUR NEWS02/02/2024
Sea turtles in the Greek wetlands of international importance
World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on February 2. These vulnerable areas of the planet are a refuge for migratory birds and other wildlife species, including sea turtles. ARCHELON is present in wetlands that play an important role for sea turtles, such as the Amvrakikos Gulf.
- OUR NEWS24/01/2024
Why are ARCHELON’s projects international?
ARCHELON’s sea turtle conservation projects are organized with the valuable contribution of volunteers who come to Greece every year not just from Europe but from more distant places such as South Korea, Australia, and Colombia. Speaking English while carrying out fieldwork or public awareness activities as well as when interacting with each other in the campsites is essential to the projects.
- OUR NEWS05/01/2024
What happened in the world of ARCHELON in 2023?
A world record for reproductive life for a sea turtle and 40 years of ARCHELON’s actions for protecting sea turtles are some of the moments we celebrated together this year. So, what happened in the world of ARCHELON in 2023? Here are some highlights of the past year.
- OUR NEWS21/12/2023
Assuming responsibility for the environment brings more meaning into our lives
“ARCHELON is an opportunity, not only for the animals and the ecosystems, but also for us who participate in it and for the society in which we operate”. Thomas Arapis, President and founding member of ARCHELON, talks about the efforts of the organization and about what he aspires for the future.
- OUR NEWS20/12/2023
Forty years later: the world of ARCHELON has expanded
Thomas Arapis, President and founding member of the Association gives the current coordinates of ARCHELON. "We encounter many turtles in our daily activities, and even more people, many more people actually, who help us. Amongst them are the people who work for us, they stand out for they represent the Association out there, through thick and thin".
- OUR NEWS20/12/2023
19 Environmental NGOs ask the Greek Government not to consent to a change in the wolf protection status in Europe