“Sea turtles are not like the domesticated animals we are familiar with. They live in the wild, usually travelling long distances at sea and rarely meet humans”, says Dimitris Fytilis, the manager of the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada Attikis. “However, 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”, Dimitris continues.

So be careful! A turtle in the sea may chase you to drive you away from its habitat. Also, if it has been fed at this place by humans, it may approach you and bite you.

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Why we should NOT feed turtles:

1. It changes their natural behavior Regular human presence and feeding affect the wild behavior of turtles. They learn to associate human presence with food, resulting in them approaching boats or bathers, increasing the risk of injury or even death.
2. It poses risks to public safety Sea turtles are wild animals and can react unpredictably, especially when they feel pressured or threatened. They have very powerful jaws and a bite that can cause serious injury.
3. Human food is NOT suitable for turtles Turtles naturally feed on organisms such as jellyfish, providing an important ecosystem service. Human food (e.g. fish, bones, cooked food) disrupts their diet and health 4.Domestication does not help, it burdens them The regular habit of feeding or “petting” turtles makes them more vulnerable and difficult to manage, especially when conflicts with human activities arise. In most cases, relocating them elsewhere is not possible or reasonable.

How you can help:

• Observe turtles from a distance, without touching or following them.

• Inform those you see feeding them.

• Share information – knowledge is power.

ARCHELON has faced similar incidents in areas such as Limeni in Mani, Zakynthos and Chania in Crete. Our experience clearly shows that feeding turtles is not a sign of care – it is a serious disruption of the natural balance.

Let us respect the sea and the life forms that inhabit it. Sea turtles need to be protected from human disturbances.

For more information:

• Dimitris Fytilis, Rescue Centre Officer: 6944929622, rc.officer@archelon.gr