How good does 2016 promise to be for sea turtles in Crete?
Turtles that visit the island of Crete this year once again, appeared almost with a daytime accuracy.
The beginning of the summer was followed by 2 more nests in Crete. This time in the nesting beach of Kommos, in the Bay of Messara, which was enthusiastically announced on Wednesday 1 June by the voluntary group of ARCHELON. The 2nd one on Thursday 2 June, in the Maleme nesting beach in the Gulf of Chania, by the corresponding voluntary group.
That fact is very encouraging for both groups which face daily challenges on the beaches of Crete, because as it has been highlighted several times, Crete is among the most deprived places in Greece concerning the nesting.
However, Crete constantly feeds us with hopes for a better future for this rare and very unique species which exists millions of years here in the world and continues visiting the beloved island.
Apart from hopes, this fact creates beautiful pictures and memories as well, for everyone who cares for, loves, protects and hopes for the survival of this species on the planet. Sea turtles are the physical proof that the beaches of Crete deserve our attention. They deserve to continue to be of high quality and attract people who really know how rare they are to continue to visit.
All of the three voluntary groups of ARCHELON, at least 37 so far young people from all over the world, express their joy to have this unique opportunity of discovering a nest of a sea turtle before completing their stay on the island.
The wish of all these people who visited Crete for the turtles with great courage, is one: Save the turtles of Crete.
And this is what they intend to do for the next four months until the middle of October.
ARCHELON reminds everyone who run their businesses on nesting beaches one more time not to forget to apply the below simple but vital measures:
The measures need to be applied by all companies operating on the beach from now until mid-October. Not only to protect the habitats of the sea turtles but also for the protection of perhaps the most important natural resource of the island of Crete. Of course, there is none other than, the beaches of a unique beauty.
Information: Nikolopoulou Athanasia, Crete Program Coordinator, tel: 6937352379
translation: Efi Tricha
A letter to the volunteers
Caretta caretta nesting in the Laconic Gulf has begun
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
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ARCHELON – the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece announces an important outcome of the systematic work of this year's sea turtle nest monitoring team in Zakynthos. Based on their long-term observations, ARCHELON managed to certify a new World Record of reproductive activity for loggerhead turtles.
- OUR NEWS07/08/2023
ATTENTION! Sea turtles are not pets: Do not touch them or feed them!
The Municipality of Eastern Mani and the Port Authorities requested the assistance of ARCHELON to inform beach users in the area of Limeni, near Mani, where 35 new incidents of sea turtle attacks on sea bathers have been recorded during this summer season. These are added to the already long list of 200 such records of previous years found in the nearby Health Center in Areopolis.
- 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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Last week the partner organizations of the project “Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Region” met for the 9th Steering Committee Meeting. The meeting was organized by SPA/RAC in the area of Kyparissia Bay, Greece on the 4th and 5th of July, 2023 in collaboration with ARCHELON.
- 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
The donations and "adoptions" made at the Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Attica and at ARCHELON’s field projects in Zakynthos, the Peloponnese and Crete in 2022, reached the amount of €350,000. We did a lot last year thanks to all these people, who also made it possible for us to continue this year.
- 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…