16/02/2016

Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (December 2015)?

Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events from 1-31 December 2015.

Turtle news:

Turtles currently being treated: 19

Arrivals

On 29 December 2015, ‘Lemmy’, a barely alive Caretta caretta turtle, was found floating in the shallow water close to shore on a Salamina beach by a group of friends out for an evening run. They immediately notified the local port police, who in turn notified the ARCHELON Rescue Center, and arrangements were made for the immediate transport of the turtle to Glyfada.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-dekembrios-2015-Lemmy_head.jpg

When the turtle arrived, he was so dehydrated and decimated that he looked more like a skeleton than a live turtle. His carapace was 75cm long, but he weighed only 40 kilos. He had a carapace injury (which did not appear to be a very recent one) which appears to have been caused by a propeller, and a head injury. His body was covered with algae and barnacles, and he was infested with leeches (including clusters of leech eggs). These conditions indicate that the turtle had been inactive for quite some time, possibly because of his injuries.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-dekembrios-2015-Lemmy_injury.jpg

Despite the emergency treatment ‘Lemmy’ received, he unfortunately died a short time after his arrival.

Releases

Thanks to the continued spring-like weather, it was possible to release several rehabilitated turtles this month.

Liam’, a loggerhead who had arrived on 19 September 2015 from Evia with an ingested hook and a flipper injury, was released on 2 December 2015 by beach.

Irini’, a loggerhead who had arrived on 6 July 2015 from Skopelos with a carapace injury, was released on 2 December 2015 by beach.

Freddy’ had arrived on 9 Aug 2015 from Salamina with a head injury and an ingested hook. Fortunately, the hook was eliminated by him naturally, and the loggerhead was released on 2 December 2015.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-dekembrios-2015-Rafaela_release.jpg

Other news

RC Co-ordinator Pavlo Tsaros will be away for three months. During his absence, Yiannis Xalkias and Polymnia Nestoridou will be ‘holding down the fort’.

Did you know...

Leeches are only one of the common problems faced by sea turtles. For an interesting article which discusses these problems, see http://nmlc.org/2011/07/sea-turtles-part-2-disease-predators-and-conservation/ (The same article has some interesting info and photos about sea turtle hatchlings, too).

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

RECENT NEWS

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. OUR NEWS
    02/02/2025

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

    Read more
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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
  14. 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
  15. 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
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!