Counting the Loggerhead nests in Zakynthos - the work of an army of ants
For the past 41+ years, ARCHELON has been counting annually nests laid by loggerhead turtles on the island of Zakynthos, one of most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean. It is a very meticulous job as it is carried out every day, at the same time of year along the same beaches applying the same standardized methods. Trained volunteers coming from all over the world take on the job, braving the harsh working hours, the extreme heat and other adverse conditions. ARCHELON’s nest count program in Zakynthos is the oldest in the Mediterranean and one of the oldest in the world. Such long-term projects provide important information for the conservation status of sea turtle populations, and this is the reason that Zakynthos has been characterized as an index-area for IUCN.
Since the establishment of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, ARCHELON cooperates closely with the Park’s Management Agency, now operating under the nationwide Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency (NECCA), providing every year data collected so at to facilitate the Park’s primary task which is the management of the nesting beaches.
In 2024, we counted a record number of nests since the start of our project 41 years ago. Nevertheless, the long-term trend shows that the number of nests is more or less stable as we have observed intense annual variations over the years (see figure). These variations are due to fluctuations on the environmental conditions at the foraging areas of turtles. Favourable conditions make more food available making the turtles to breed more frequently. So, some years we count more nests - however this does not automatically indicate an increase in the total number of breeding females.
However, the current record in the number of turtle nests laid on the island during 2024 also carries a feeling of optimism that if this trend continues, it may lead to the recovery of the Zakynthos sea turtle population.
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