Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (January-February 2017)?
Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events in January and February 2017.
Day Volunteers: Six day volunteers received a symbolic gift of appreciation from ARCHELON at the annual pita-cutting event: Dionysis Arvanitakis, John Brinkman, Jane Mantarakis, Irene Kasimatis, Phil Miller, and me. (For details, see http://www.archelon.gr/eng/ournews.php?row=row10&nid=894)
“For most of the wild things on Earth, the future must depend on the conscience of mankind.”
This quote by the famous sea turtle conservationist Archie Carr (1909-1987) seemed an appropriate way to begin this report, the first of the new year. (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Archie_Carr/)
Usually things are quiet at the RC during the early winter months, with all the injured turtles safely sheltered in their heated tanks within the greenhouse, receiving treatment and preparing to be released in the spring. In fact, usually few if any turtles are admitted for treatment during this time. This may be due to a combination of factors, such as less people out boating or fishing, and the sea turtles are either brumating (= the form of hibernation characteristic of reptiles) or have moved to warmer waters.
For the last several years, due to climate change (an example of the negative effects of “the conscience of mankind”), the weather in Greece has been characterized by relatively mild winters. However, this year was quite different, with periods of mild weather suddenly changing to harsh winter conditions with low or freezing temperatures, then briefly warm again, then suddenly cold. As a result, a number of sea turtles were cold struck, and were either stranded on the sea surface or washed ashore. Emergency measures had to be taken to accommodate these turtles at the RC and to treat them for hypothermia.
Many thanks to the volunteers who had the difficult task of caring for both the turtles already being treated plus the new arrivals. Thanks also to everyone involved in rescuing and transporting the turtles, and to the ARCHELON supporters whose generosity helped the RC manage the unexpected economic demands. All of you are examples of the positive effects of “the conscience of mankind”.
ARRIVALS
“Iraklis” (“Hercules”) arrived on 3 February 2017 from Rhodos. The turtle, whose carapace measures 74 cm and who weighs 46 kilos, was found to have an ingested hook. (Needless to say the turtle was named after the legendary ancient Greek half-god hero Hercules, son of the god Zeus and the mortal Alcmene.)
“Polyphytos”, whose carapace measures 78.0 cm and who weighs 58.0 kilos, arrived from Leros on 15 February, suffering from hypothermia. (The turtle is named after the artificial lake Polyphytos in northern Greece, which is known for the famous – and longest in Greece – bridge which traverses it.)
“Theodora”, who arrived on 16 February from Rethymno, has a carapace measuring 24.0 cm and weighs only 1.5 kilos. The turtle has no visible injuries, but is very debilitated and covered with barnacles. The turtle was named after the woman who found her, and it means “Gift of God”.
“Valentina” arrived on 17 February from Thessaloniki, suffering from hypothermia. The turtle’s carapace measures 73 cm, and she weighs 42.5 kilos.
DEATHS
“Marina”, who arrived on 30 January 2017, died shortly after her arrival.
Did you know...
ARCHELON Volunteers in Greece is a group of local volunteers who meet regularly. They do various jobs at the RC, plan and organize RC special events, represent ARCHELON at information tables at various educational and public events, participate in fund-raising and public awareness activities, and have fun at the same time. If you are interested in joining, please contact the ARCHELON Volunteer Officer Hara Papailiou at volunteers@archelon.gr.
Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (March 2017)?
ARCHELON in a colorful action in the center of Athens
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
World record of 37 years of reproductive life for a loggerhead sea turtle in Zakynthos, Greece – increased number of nests this summer, says ARCHELON
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!
Help us spread the message about the protection of sea turtles by making your own baby turtles with natural materials you will find on the beach. Sand, stones, pebbles, shells, seaweed, sticks and whatever else you have available, can be transformed with a little imagination! Take a photo of your work and send it to the ARCHELON Beach Competition.
- OUR NEWS18/07/2023
Paving the way for next steps in conservation of marine turtles in the Mediterranean region
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
This is the year when ARCHELON, a nonprofit environmental NGO, is celebrating 40 years of continuous and targeted action to save sea turtles in Greece and the Mediterranean. At the same time, the project teams of ARCHELON are ready to register the longest period of active reproduction known for the Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), in case it happens this year!
- 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
Thousands of Greek students visit the Centre and get informed about the value of protecting the environment through contact with a particularly beloved animal, the sea turtle. "All the available visiting hours until the end of the 2022-2023 school year have been booked, but there is a waiting list that is activated in case of cancellations", says Anna Kontoleon, ARCHELON’s Education Officer. More hours for online tours may be added in May if volunteers become available.
- 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…