25/02/2016

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

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

Although there usually aren’t many arrivals of injured turtles during the winter months (except for those suffering from hypothermia), this month seemed to follow the same pattern as the rest of the unusual, violent events taking place all over the planet.

Turtle news:

Turtles currently being treated: 23

This is a challenging number of turtles to care for during the winter months. The main problem is keeping the water in all the tanks at the proper temperature: Since turtles are cold-blooded like all reptiles, they cannot regulate their body temperature and are adversely affected by the cold.

Kasjpy’, a Caretta carretta (carapace length 66 cm, weight 32 kilos), arrived from Poros on 3 January 2016. She was bleeding from her mouth and about 20 cm of ingested fishing line was hanging out of it. The X-ray didn’t show any ingested hook, so the veterinarian gently tried to pull out some of the line by hand. About 2.7 meters of line was removed, but there is still more inside. Ingested fishing line is one of the most dangerous types of injuries for a sea turtle since the line can seriously damage a turtle’s internal organs and digestive track. She is being given special pharmaceutical oil to help her pass the remaining line naturally, if possible.

On 9 January 2016, a severely injured loggerhead arrived at the RC from Nafplio. The turtle had been the victim of a brutal attack by someone: her jaw was smashed and dislocated, and she had a long knife cut down her plastron, with several broken plastron pieces from stab wounds. Because the turtle was still alive, she was transported to the RC in the hope that something could be done to ease her suffering. Unfortunately, she died shortly after her arrival. A video reporting this incident and showing the turtle was filmed and posted online by a local news station and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9dS5fFkOfw (WARNING: the pictures are quite graphic!)

On 16 January 2016, ‘Niki’, a loggerhead (carapace length 21.3 cm, weight 1.5 kilos) was brought to the RC by a family who had found her washed ashore onto nearby Voula Beach. The turtle had visible injuries on her front left flipper and her plastron, possibly due to being thrown against the rocks by the waves. The turtle seemed to be suffering from hypothermia, and X-rays revealed that all her flippers were broken. Unfortunately, she would not eat and her small size added to her problems. She died on 22 January 2016.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-ianouarios-2016-Babylon_treatment.jpg

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-ianouarios-2016-iasoX_ray.jpg

On 21 January 2016, another turtle which had been found on the same beach in Nafplio as the unfortunate turtle found on 9 January, arrived at the RC. This turtle had similar injuries on its plastron: A long, deep cut down the whole length of it. The turtle had lost a lot of blood, and some of its internal organs were coming out from the cut. After examining the turtle, the veterinarian concluded that unfortunately nothing could be done to save it, and it passed away the night of 22 January. As with the first turtle, this incident was recorded and posted online: http://www.zougla.gr/perivallon/article/nafplio-epixirisi-diasosis-travmatismenis-8alasias-xelonas (WARNING: the pictures are quite graphic!)

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-ianouarios-2016-artemis_treatment.jpg

We would like to thank all the caring people from all over Greece who helped rescue and transport these turtles!

Other news

If you have a few hours of free time each week and are interested in volunteering to help save sea turtles, please contact Yiannis or Polymnia at the RC at 6941 511 511. There is an official ARCHELON volunteer group, which meets regularly to help plan events, to talk about issues... and to relax and have fun.

Did you know...

Besides all the other dangers that sea turtles face, a new one has been brought to light by a team of researchers from Duke University, the University of Hawaii and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): pollution around the Hawaiian islands caused by high levels of nitrates from agricultural runoff is causing lethal tumors in the endangered sea turtle population. For more information and photos, see

http://inhabitat.com/how-humans-could-be-causing-lethal-tumors-on-endangered-sea-turtles/sea-turtles-pollution-caused-tumors/.

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

RECENT NEWS

  1. OUR NEWS
    29/08/2025

    Turtle Run in Chania: Lace up your running shoes and get ready!

    September 7th, Chania: Join the event and support the protection of one of the most iconic marine species in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  2. OUR NEWS
    27/08/2025

    Citizens Help us Map Sea Turtle Sporadic Nesting in the Ionian Sea

    This study is particularly important as it highlights the power of citizen science. Public eyes on beaches, outreach through online platforms and new reporting tools are expanding our understanding of turtle nesting beyond the beaches we monitor.

    Read more
  3. OUR NEWS
    20/08/2025

    A nesting turtle brings hope amidst a night of fire

    After a 12-hour period filled with fear and uncertainty, the family witnessed a miracle of nature. “It brought us peace and reminded us of what is important”.

    Read more
  4. OUR NEWS
    14/08/2025

    ARCHELON’s Life-Saving Chain with the Support of the Green Fund

    Thanks to persistence, medication, daily care, and a great deal of patience, “Snowball” gradually moved from a critical state to full recovery.

    Read more
  5. OUR NEWS
    31/07/2025

    ATTENTION! Please do not feed sea turtles – They are not pets- Protect them from human induced impacts

    ARCHELON informs that the phenomenon of feeding sea turtles by people in coastal areas, ports and tourist spots has been observed in recent years. Despite good intentions, this practice causes serious problems – for turtles and for people alike.

    Read more
  6. OUR NEWS
    25/07/2025

    New Info Station in Kyparissia Opens for LIFE MareNatura Project

    Located at the beachfront of the town, the Info Station operates daily 18:30 - 21:00.

    Read more
  7. OUR NEWS
    21/07/2025

    Public Excavations of Sea Turtle Nests in Crete

    The excavations are open for both kids and adults and take place on the nesting beaches of Rethymno, Chania, and the Messara Bay during the months of August and September.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    21/07/2025

    Public Excavations of Sea Turtle Nests in the Peloponnese

    The excavations are open for both kids and adults and take place on the nesting beaches of Kyparissia Bay, Romanos, Koroni and Lakonikos Bay during the months of August and September.

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    16/07/2025

    Earlier than ever before was the start of the 2025 Hatching Season of Loggerheads in Greece – The first hatchlings have reached the sea!

    We are excited to announce the beginning of the 2025 sea turtle hatching season, with the earliest hatching event ever recorded since monitoring began in 1984.

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    15/07/2025

    Important presentations at the 16th International Congress on the Zoogeography and Ecology of Greece and Adjacent Regions (ICZEGAR)

    ARCHELON actively contributed to the Congress with three oral presentations, highlighting key aspects of its scientific and conservation work for sea turtles.

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    09/07/2025

    Inspections in Zakynthos and Kyparissia by representatives of the Bern Convention

    The experts were in Greece to monitor the implementation of the Recommendations adopted by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to our country regarding the protection of the Loggerhead sea turtle and the ongoing threats faced by the species in its largest breeding habitats in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    02/07/2025

    Citizen Science: Recording of Sporadic Nesting of Sea turtles across the Aegean

    For over four decades, many people have been reporting turtle sightings and tracks across the Greek coastline. Thanks to them, we have confirmed 577 unique nesting events outside our regularly monitored areas

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    01/07/2025

    Satellite Tagging Completed and Captured on Film in Crete

    ARCHELON has just successfully completed the 2025 deployment of satellite transmitters on Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta) in Crete, as part of the ongoing LIFE MareNatura Project. This year’s work in Crete was extra special: the LIFE MareNatura Documentary team joined us in the field!

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    23/06/2025

    Enjoy the Beaches Responsibly: Together We Protect the Sea Turtles of Kyparissia Bay!

    So far, more than 2,000 nests have been recorded in the area. In order to best manage the protected beaches, we have adapted our field work protocols.

    Read more
  15. OUR NEWS
    16/06/2025

    World Sea Turtle Day: We can all live together!

    Today, June 16th, we celebrate World Sea Turtle Day. On this occasion, ARCHELON expresses its warmest thanks to all citizens, volunteers, donors and supporters who actively contribute to our work.

    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!