Cause of death…propeller!
The turtle had sustained injuries to the shell, the jaw and the right rear flipper. After a close inspection of the wounds, it had become clear that they were caused by a boat’s propeller. One of our volunteers, Cosette, having the appropriate experience from volunteering in ARCHELON's Rescue Center, provided first aid to the rare species and on Saturday 15 July, the turtle was transferred with the help of KTEL Zakynthos to the ARCHELON Rescue Center in Athens.
With proper health care, specialized veterinarians and of course the care of our volunteers, we had hoped that her health would be restored within the next few weeks. Sadly, the turtle that was named Coco in honor of the volunteer who helped her in the very first critical hours, died during her rehabilitation. The injuries she received were too severe, as the propeller had cut through her shell.
As we are in the highest tourist season, more tourists visit the island of Zakynthos and so more boats occupy the sea and the beaches of the island. This increases the risk for turtles, which are located in the bay of Laganas, and around the island.
Unfortunately, on Saturday 15th July we found the 15th dead turtle for this season on the island, and even more recently on the 28th July we found another turtle killed by a boat’s propeller. Worryingly, this male turtle had been found inside the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, within the zone near Marathonissi. According to legislation, there is a strict speed limit of 6 nautical miles per hour within the Marine park to prevent such interactions between wild animals and boats.
ARCHELON will continue its work dynamically and we hope that this number will not grow further.
Information: Anna Lamaj, Project Leader of Zakynthos Project Phone: +30 6940454976, email: zakynth@archelon.gr
Stop feeding the Caretta caretta in Zakynthos
The first nest of a Caretta caretta in Greece has hatched in Zakynthos
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS15/09/2023
Lilo, the tiny green turtle, made it back to the sea!
In November 2021 a small green turtle arrived at the ARCHELON Rescue Centre with a very serious head injury. After almost two years of intensive care, one Wednesday in September 2023 he was finally discharged and returned to the sea!
- OUR NEWS17/08/2023
World record of 37 years of reproductive life for a loggerhead sea turtle in Zakynthos, Greece – increased number of nests this summer, says ARCHELON
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- OUR NEWS07/08/2023
ATTENTION! Sea turtles are not pets: Do not touch them or feed them!
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- OUR NEWS01/08/2023
Interview with a volunteer: Lea Heinen, Rescue Centre
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- OUR NEWS21/07/2023
Kids Beach Competition 2023: Make your own little sea turtle with natural materials and send us a photo!
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- OUR NEWS18/07/2023
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- OUR NEWS04/07/2023
An offer to EXPERIENCED volunteers: You can now join the beach projects for 2-3 weeks!
The time is just right to join the projects again, even if you have only 2 or 3 weeks of available time. This offer is valid for August, September, October 2023. Apply through our new website and find out more about the dates and places you can join. More…
- OUR NEWS22/06/2023
The nesting season has begun! Learn what you can do if you find sea turtle tracks or nests on the beach
The nesting season for the loggerhead sea turtles has begun. The nests that are made in the areas monitored by ARCHELON and other collaborating groups are already being recorded. However, if you find tracks or nests on other beaches, you can also participate in the effort to record and protect these sporadic nests. Find out why it's important…
- OUR NEWS16/06/2023
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
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- OUR NEWS15/06/2023
A Saturday unlike any other - Turtle Festival 2023
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- OUR NEWS07/06/2023
Announcement for all past volunteers of ARCHELON: Shall we meet this September?
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- OUR NEWS07/04/2023
Waiting list for schools that want to visit the ARCHELON Rescue Centre
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- OUR NEWS28/03/2023
People are supporting wildlife conservation
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- OUR NEWS24/03/2023
Gail Schofield
We learned with deep sadness the passing away of Gail Schofield, a pronounced sea turtle researcher and former ARCHELON volunteer. Read more…
- OUR NEWS20/03/2023
More than half of the rehabilitated sea turtles got released back to the sea in 2022!
The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre of ARCHELON in Glyfada rescues, takes care of and rehabilitates injured sea turtles from all parts of Greece since 1994. More than half of the sea turtles that were under care at the Rescue Centre in 2022 got released back to the sea after reaching full recovery this year! Read more…