29/09/2016

Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (August 2016)?

Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events from 1-31 August 2016.

As usual, August is a very busy month at the RC, and all the tanks are filled with sick or injured turtles. However, a number of turtles treated over the winter have recovered and will be released in the near future. Both the long-term volunteers from abroad and the local day volunteers have been working extremely hard to transport the new arrivals from the port or bus terminal, giving first aid and daily treatments, cleaning tanks, preparing their food, monitoring their progress, and all the other jobs involved in keeping the RC up and running. Many thanks to them all for their dedication, hard work, and concern for the turtles.

Number of turtles being treated at the RC at the end of August 2016: 38

Turtle News

Arrivals

Patrick’, a loggerhead whose carapace length is 55.1 cm and who weighs 21.5 kilos, arrived at the RC on 2 August 2016. The turtle, who was found by the ARCHELON Amvrakikos Field Project team, has a broken flipper and a head injury. Nothing can be done to repair the flipper injury, but he seems to be able to cope with the difficulties it cause quite well, and hopefully will be released soon.

Triantafillos’ (which means ‘rose’ in English), arrived at the RC on 8 August 2016 from Porto Heli (Peloponnese). The loggerhead, (carapace length 33.5 and weight 4.0 kilos), is being treated for pneumonia.

Costas’ arrived at the RC on 12 August 16 from Ikaria with an ingested hook(s?). X-rays reveal what appears to be a two-ended hook, which more likely will turn out to be two separate hooks. He is scheduled to receive surgery to remove the hook. The loggerhead’s carapace measures 50.3 cm and he weighs 17.5 kilos. More information will be available after the surgery is performed.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-aygoustos-2016-Tinos.jpg

Vassilis’ arrived at the RC on 14 August 2016 from Nea Marmara (Chalkidiki) with an ingested hook. He was found stranded on the beach at night by a local resident Vassilis and his two children. The loggerhead’s carapace measures 31.9 cm, and he weighs 4.0 kilos. The hook was surgically removed on the 25th of August. The turtle is recovering well and has started eating.

Paria’, a loggerhead who arrived from Paros on 16 August 2016, with a carapace injury caused by a collision with a propeller. Her carapace measures 64.5 cm and she weighs 33.0 kilos. The cut is so deep in one place that you can see her spinal column. She is missing two vertebrae, but despite that, she is somehow managing to dive, eat and swim normally. Her wound is being treated to avoid infection.

Salva’ arrived on 20 August 2016 from the nearby island of Kea/Angistri, with an ingested hook, which will have to be surgically removed. The small loggerhead has a carapace length of 30.7cm and weighs just 4 kilos.

Theo’, a small loggerhead whose carapace length is 32.1 kilos and weighs 4.5 kilos, arrived from Skiathos on 23rd August with an ingested hook, which was surgically removed on 25 August. He was transported to Athens by Olympic Air.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-aygoustos-2016-Haroula.jpg

Alexandra’, an adult loggerhead with a carapace length of 78.0 cm, 45.8 kg , was found by the Amvrakikos Management Agency, whose help is always appreciated. The turtle, which arrived at the RC on 31 August 2016 from Kataforko, has an old head injury which is causing her problems.

Michaela’ arrived at the RC on 30 August 2016 from Samos with a head injury intentionally caused by human action, very likely caused by a screwdriver. 73.5 cm and weight 38 kg.

Deaths

We are very happy to report that none of the turtles died in August.

Releases

There were three releases in August 2016:

Nikos’, a loggerhead who had arrived on 30 March 2013 from Chios with a head injury, was released from the Kotychi-Strofilia Wetlands National Park in the Peloponnese on 21 August 2016, with the help of the Park’s management staff. (For more information about the Park, see their website http://www.strofylianationalpark.gr/index.php/en/)

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-aygoustos-2016-Nikos_release.jpg

Zacharias’, a loggerhead who had arrived from Evia on 2 January 2015 with a head injury, was released into the Saronic Gulf on 8 August 2016 from a boat in the Anavissos area.

Dimitrios-Pavlos’, the largest loggerhead treated at the RC in 2015, had arrived on 23 October 2015 from Preveza with a head injury, was released in Kyparissia on 29 August 2016, in collaboration with the Costa Navarino resort. See the article and photos at: http://www.archelon.gr/contents/ourdeltia.php?row=row10&nid=858 (Note: the article is available only in Greek, but even if you can’t read the article, you can still enjoy the photos!)

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-aygoustos-2016-Dimitrios_Pavlos.jpg

Special thanks to

Olympic Air for helping to save ‘Theo’.

Amvrakikos Management Agency (for information and photos about this protected area, see http://www.amvrakikos.eu/english/foreas.pdf)

Stelios, a dedicated member of the ARCHELON Rescue Network, who always finds time to help when it is needed.

To all the different people who given time, energy and care to the turtles, which made it possible to save them.

Did you know ...

The ARCHELON Rescue Centre is piloting an enrichment program to document turtle behaviour. Various ‘structures’ (for example, a wooden construction resembling a dock), balls, objects which have pieces of fish sticking out, etc. are added to the big tanks both to provide something for the turtles to do but, more importantly, to observe what they do when faced with a challenge. The project is still in its early stages, but you can see some of the items in the big tanks if you visit the Centre.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-septembrios-2015-JoanneStournara3.jpg

RECENT NEWS

  1. OUR NEWS
    24/03/2025

    Become a Guardian of the Night: Volunteer with ARCHELON

    On some select beaches, volunteer duties also include night patrols. During the hours when the presence of people on the nesting beaches is prohibited so as not to disturb the turtles, our trained volunteers start their shift, equipped with measuring instruments, research notebooks and red flashlights.

    Read more
  2. OUR NEWS
    14/03/2025

    Enriching the lives of rescued sea turtles

    A recent study at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre highlights the importance of environmental enrichment in improving the physical and psychological well-being of rescued sea turtles, aiding their rehabilitation and preparing them for successful release back into the wild.

    Read more
  3. OUR NEWS
    24/02/2025

    ARCHELON's Annual General Assembly

    According to article 8 of the Statutes of ARCHELON Association, its’ members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 22 February 2025.

    Read more
  4. OUR NEWS
    20/02/2025

    From the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre in Egypt!

    A sea turtle, previously rehabilitated at the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre, has once again made headlines, this time internationally. The tagged turtle was discovered weak and injured on an Egyptian beach after the recent rough seas. This incident, as reported by the Egyptian news agency, underscores the ongoing need to protect the fragile Mediterranean marine environment.

    Read more
  5. OUR NEWS
    17/02/2025

    ARCHELON's turtle toy travels the country with students and teachers

    We would like to warmly thank all the schools that participated in the Online Tours during the 2023-2024 school year and spread the message of sea turtle protection to the ends of the country! The online tours for the current school year have already started.

    Read more
  6. OUR NEWS
    12/02/2025

    Online Presentation of Results 2024

    Last year, 500 volunteers from all over the world came to help turtles in Greece! What did they achieve? Join us to find out!

    Read more
  7. OUR NEWS
    11/02/2025

    Historic Green Sea Turtle Nest Discovered on Rhodes Island, Greece

    This species is globally endangered and the recent discovery is particularly significant as it suggests a possible shift in green turtle breeding areas.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    04/02/2025

    Joanne's Lifelong Passion: volunteering at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

    Joanne's lifelong passion for sea turtles led her to volunteer at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Greece, where she dedicates her time to educating visitors and contributing to the organization's conservation efforts.

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    02/02/2025

    2 years of joint systematic efforts to protect Greece's largest wetland

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    28/01/2025

    The ARCHELON Recap for 2024: We kept on fighting for Sea Turtles and the protection of the Oceans

    2024 was the year that the recovery of the loggerhead sea turtle breeding population in Kyparissia Bay has been confirmed! This site now hosts the largest breeding population in the Mediterranean, which has been growing steadily in the past years thanks to the consistent long-term nest protection efforts of ARCHELON. It was also the warmest year globally on record when, on the side of our heavy core business workload, we made time to strengthen our commitment to volunteerism and sustainable tourism.

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    20/01/2025

    Thank You to our 2024 Field Leaders: The Heart of Sea Turtle Conservation

    At ARCHELON, we owe much of our success to the dedication and passion of our Field Leaders. These incredible individuals guide our volunteers throughout their work in the field, ensuring that our mission to protect sea turtles is carried out with precision, care, and enthusiasm.

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    16/01/2025

    The sweet side of healing: Why honey is a secret weapon for saving injured sea turtles.

    The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of honey help fight infections in open wounds, a common problem for injured sea turtles.

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    18/12/2024

    An injured Loggerhead sea turtle returns to the ARCHELON Rescue Centre with plastics in its digestive system.

    Greece has made progress in cutting down on plastic bag use, but we all need to do more. Sea pollution from plastic is still a major threat, harming both people and marine life.

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    06/12/2024

    ARCHELON is on the Frontline of Sea Turtle Rescue in the Mediterranean.

    For the first time, we have conducted CT scans for accurate diagnoses and started special blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the health of sea turtles under our care.

    Read more
  15. 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
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!