ARCHELON is on the Frontline of Sea Turtle Rescue in the Mediterranean.
Since 1994, the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre of ARCHELON has been giving a second chance at life to injured and sick sea turtles found in Greece. This year, the Rescue Centre has received up until now 39 loggerheads and 4 green sea turtles highlighting the ongoing threats to marine environments.
The specialized staff of ARCHELON, along with volunteers from all over the world, dedicate all their efforts to offer care to these injured ancient swimmers. With love and dedication, they manage to create a safe haven where sea turtles can recover and find the strength to return to their natural environment.
"We have taken a significant step forward in our efforts to rehabilitate the animals by introducing advanced diagnostic tools,” says Eirini Kasimati, the Rescue and Rehabilitation Officer. “For the first time, we have conducted CT scans for accurate diagnoses and started special blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the health of sea turtles under our care. These innovative practices, made possible by the GREEN FUND, have positioned ARCHELON as a pioneer in sea turtle rehabilitation”, she adds.
While efforts to protect the environment and reduce marine pollution and overfishing are ongoing, it will take time to see significant results. Unfortunately, wildlife is already suffering, and the climate crisis is further destabilizing marine and coastal ecosystems. The long-term effects are uncertain, but scientists agree that protecting species is crucial for maintaining marine biodiversity and healthy ocean ecosystems.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the rehabilitation team, the volunteers and everyone who supported the Rescue Centre, 23 sea turtles were successfully released into the sea this year. Little "Bawser," with a serious head injury, "Luigi," with a flipper injury from entanglement in fishing gear, and "Zoe," who had swallowed plastic debris, are just a few of the lucky turtles from the Rescue Centre who began their journeys again in the waters of the Mediterranean in 2024.
This year we celebrate 30 years of sea turtle care in Greece and remain committed to our mission as sea turtles are an indicator of the health of marine ecosystems.
Here is how you can help in our work.
The Project "Rescue, care and reintegration of sea turtles into the natural environment in 2024". "Green Fund Funding", Budget €45,000.00, of the Green Fund "NATURAL ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE NEUTRALITY 2024" and specifically in PRIORITY AXIS 1: "PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT - CLIMATE NEUTRALITY & OTHER ACTIONS" aims to support the operation of the STRC in 2024 aims to support the operation of the STRC during 2024.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the GREEN FUND for its ongoing support.
An injured Loggerhead sea turtle returns to the ARCHELON Rescue Centre with plastics in its digestive system.
Summer 2025: Lead the Way in Sea Turtle Conservation and become a Field Leader with ARCHELON!
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS16/07/2025
Earlier than ever before was the start of the 2025 Hatching Season of Loggerheads in Greece – The first hatchlings have reached the sea!
We are excited to announce the beginning of the 2025 sea turtle hatching season, with the earliest hatching event ever recorded since monitoring began in 1984.
- OUR NEWS15/07/2025
Important presentations at the 16th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions (ICZEGAR)
ARCHELON actively contributed to the Congress with three oral presentations, highlighting key aspects of its scientific and conservation work for sea turtles.
- OUR NEWS02/07/2025
Citizen Science: Recording of Sporadic Nesting of Sea turtles across the Aegean
For over four decades, many people have been reporting turtle sightings and tracks across the Greek coastline. Thanks to them, we have confirmed 577 unique nesting events outside our regularly monitored areas
- OUR NEWS01/07/2025
Satellite Tagging Completed and Captured on Film in Crete
ARCHELON has just successfully completed the 2025 deployment of satellite transmitters on Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Crete, as part of the ongoing LIFE MareNatura Project. This year’s work in Crete was extra special: the LIFE MareNatura Documentary team joined us in the field!
- OUR NEWS23/06/2025
Enjoy the Beaches Responsibly: Together We Protect the Sea Turtles of Kyparissia Bay!
So far, more than 2,000 nests have been recorded in the area. In order to best manage the protected beaches, we have adapted our field work protocols.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2025
World Sea Turtle Day: We can all live together!
Today, June 16th, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. On this occasion, ARCHELON expresses its warmest thanks to all citizens, volunteers, donors and supporters who actively contribute to our work.
- OUR NEWS10/06/2025
New Adaptation Strategies for Sea Turtles and Mediterranean Monk Seals
Institutions, associations and researchers will work for 5 years alongside the coastal communities to evaluate and respond to the effects of rising sea levels and ocean warming. These are to be developed through the ‘LIDE ADAPTS’ project which is being carried out in Italy, Greece and Cyprus.
- OUR NEWS08/06/2025
World Oceans Day: Conservation and Anthropogenic “Wounds” in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos
On the occasion of World Oceans Day, ARCHELON brings to the fore the challenges facing Laganas Bay, Zakynthos - one of the most important refuges of the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean.
- OUR NEWS06/06/2025
Sekania: History of the most precious refuge for the Loggerhead in Zakynthos
Sekania, a secluded 600-meter-long beach in Zakynthos, is a global model of success in biodiversity conservation, with more than 24,000 sea turtle nests recorded over the last 40 years.
- OUR NEWS05/06/2025
World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers
On June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in 1972. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, and ARCHELON is calling for action on the sea turtle nesting beaches.
- OUR NEWS02/06/2025
Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel
ARCHELON volunteers have just located the first sea turtle nests of the season on the beaches of Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. Now the challenge to prove that tourism destinations on Crete can make a significant move towards sustainability is on again.
- OUR NEWS29/05/2025
Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader
ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.
- OUR NEWS22/05/2025
Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!
The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay in Crete!
- OUR NEWS16/05/2025
Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence
Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!
- OUR NEWS15/05/2025
Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism
Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?