16/07/2021

Great luck to meet “Ella”, the beautiful fairy, again in Kalo Nero, Kyparissia bay

ARCHELON has been watching this female loggerhead travel all around the Mediterranean with a satellite tracking device for two years now. To see “Ella” safely return back to Kalo Nero, in Kyparissia Bay, where it was tagged in 2019 by the team led by Alan F. Rees, is something to celebrate for. We had the great luck to observe this turtle throughout its migration between two reproductive periods in the Mediterranean!

“We knew that “Ella” was heading to Kyparissia bay already in April and it was spotted via drones close to the nesting beach, during the mating season in the beginning of June” says Galini Samlidou, the Peloponnese Project Manager of ARCHELON. Finally, the volunteers identified the turtle nesting in the beach of Kalo Nero in the early hours of 1 July 2021, during the night survey.

synanthsame-ksana-thn-omorfh-neraida-ella-sto-kalo-nero-ston-kolpo-ths-kyparissias-Ella_red.jpg

“The turtle laid eggs only a few meters away from the spot where she was last seen nesting and tagged in 2019. She seemed to be in excellent condition and was very energetic when she covered and camouflaged her nest” Galini reports.

Ella is one of the very few female loggerheads that have been tracked throughout their migration between two reproductive periods worldwide. In 2019 ARCHELON recorded her making 3 nests in Kyparissia bay and then watched her migrate over 1700km to the Western Mediterranean basin, reaching the coasts of France and Spain.

synanthsame-ksana-thn-omorfh-neraida-ella-sto-kalo-nero-ston-kolpo-ths-kyparissias-Ella_migration.jpg

This is the 40th year that ARCHELON runs night surveys with sea turtle tagging in Kyparissia bay and Zakynthos. Night surveys have yielded valuable information about the reproductive longevity of sea turtles i.e. for how many years females can lay eggs. Satellite tagging and night surveys combined made it possible to determine the loggerhead clutch frequency in Kyparissia bay, i.e. the number of nests made by the same female in a season. Both these parameters can help determine the size and trends of the loggerhead population.

A new migration in the Mediterranean is set to start soon for ‘Ella’. You can watch it from ARCHELON’s website

synanthsame-ksana-thn-omorfh-neraida-ella-sto-kalo-nero-ston-kolpo-ths-kyparissias-Ella_migration2.jpg

How come that “Ella” is called a beautiful fairy? You can read more about “Ella” and the rest of the sea turtles tagged with satellite transmitters in Kyparissia in 2019 in this article .

ARCHELON, a nonprofit environmental NGO, has been carrying out tagging of sea turtles in south Kyparissia bay since 1982. In recent years, Kyparissia bay hosts the largest reproducing populations of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in the Mediterranean. It is a site of the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 and has been declared a Nature Protection Area in 2018.

The activity of satellite tagging was carried out by ARCHELON in Phase I of the project “Conservation of marine turtles in the Mediterranean Region”, funded by MAVA foundation (2018-2019)

RECENT NEWS

  1. OUR NEWS
    03/12/2024

    Summer 2025: Lead the Way in Sea Turtle Conservation and become a Field Leader with ARCHELON!

    A limited number of experienced and capable volunteers are selected each year for the positions of Field Leaders on the ARCHELON projects. Applications and short CVs for 2025 are now accepted!

    Read more
  2. OUR NEWS
    25/11/2024

    Make this gift-giving season more magical: Adopt a Sea Turtle for your loved ones!

    Whether it's for the wildlife lover in your life, or someone who cares about the planet, an adoption from ARCHELON is a present that keeps on giving.

    Read more
  3. OUR NEWS
    18/11/2024

    A Nest of Hope: Keanu's Journey with ARCHELON

    Keanu Groeneveld, a Wildlife Management student from the Netherlands, recently completed an internship with ARCHELON at the Sea Turtle Conservation Project in Rethymno, Crete. His experience was more than ever expected; it was a transformative journey that ignited his passion for wildlife conservation.

    Read more
  4. OUR NEWS
    12/11/2024

    Turtle protection through satellite trackers: TUI Care Foundation and conservation organisation ARCHELON release sea turtle in Greece

    Triton was released back into the Mediterranean Sea with a satellite transmitter after several months of rehabilitation at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre. As part of the TUI Turtle Aid programme, the initiative aims to contribute valuable insights into sea turtle behaviour.

    Read more
  5. OUR NEWS
    11/11/2024

    A very exciting nesting record confirms the recovery of the Loggerhead population breeding in Kyparissia Bay, Greece!

    This year, ARCHELON has recorded a new nesting record: 6,700 Loggerhead nests in the core nesting area of Kyparissia Bay.

    Read more
  6. OUR NEWS
    28/10/2024

    A wildlife symbol turned into a macabre tourist attraction

    Αn embalmed Loggerhead sea turtle was found on public display in front of one of the Kastos island’s taverns.

    Read more
  7. OUR NEWS
    23/10/2024

    Growing Beyond Boundaries: A Volunteer's Transformation

    “Through volunteering in Chania, I was able to go beyond my limits and discover a new world,” says Hyerim Ryu, explaining her motivation and sharing her experience of 5 weeks volunteering with ARCHELON.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    18/10/2024

    Is there any progress on establishing an all-embracing Marine Park in the Ionian Sea?

    We are awaiting the results of the study with great interest, as the establishment of the new Marine Park in the Ionian Sea will be a landmark for the protection of sea turtles in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    16/10/2024

    Greece's Marine Protected Areas remain unprotected

    A new report, by nine environmental organizations, identifies serious deficiencies in the protection of the most important Greek marine habitats, stressing the urgent need for immediate action

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    14/10/2024

    2025 Projects: Is it your turn to save the sea turtles?

    ARCHELON is thrilled to announce the volunteering projects for 2025. If you're passionate about nature conservation and eager to make a positive impact, we invite you to join our dedicated team of volunteers.

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    30/09/2024

    Reunite with Your Passion: Become an ARCHELON Ambassador!

    Are you passionate about sea turtle conservation and want to make a positive impact on their survival? Becoming an ARCHELON ambassador is a fantastic way to contribute to this important cause.

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    27/09/2024

    Transforming Rethymno: Sustainable tourism opportunities with the sea turtle as ambassador

    With sea turtles as its ambassadors, Rethymno has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable tourism. By offering responsible ecotourism experiences, the tourism industry can create a legion of passionate advocates for ocean conservation.

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    18/09/2024

    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.

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    17/09/2024

    Successful wrap up of Amvrakikos project for 2024 marking two decades of dedicated work

    ARCHELON is a beacon of hope for sea turtles in Greece's Amvrakikos Gulf. From rescuing injured turtles to monitoring their population characteristics and their migration patterns, ARCHELON's work has been contributing to the survival of these protected animals for the last 20 years.

    Read more
  15. OUR NEWS
    09/09/2024

    Educational Programs 2024-2025: Inspire the Next Generation of Conservationists with ARCHELON!

    Last year, 15,000 students arrived at the Rescue Centre and were fascinated by the wonders of sea turtle conservation.

    Read more
1 out of 0
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Learn about our latest actions and find out about our programs and how you can help sea turtles!