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

As happens every year during the summer months when more people are out enjoying the beaches and the sea, there is more human-turtle contact, resulting in more injured turtles. Accidents involving fishing lines/hooks and collisions with boat propellers can happen, BUT unfortunately some of the worst (i.e. fatal) injuries were deliberately inflicted by humans.

Turtle News

Number of turtles being treated as of 31 July 2016: 27 (25 loggerheads and 2 green turtles).

Arrivals

‘Thoros’ was found by members of the ARCHELON Amvrakikos team. The turtle (carapace measuring 63.3 cm and weighing 35 kilos) was found with an ingested hook and line, and sent to the RC on 7 July 2016 for treatment. The hook was removed surgically, and we hope that he will be able to pass the line naturally. (For more information about and photos of the Amvrakikos project, see http://www.archelon.gr/eng/habitat_amvrakikos.php?row=row3)

‘Polymnia’, an adult loggerhead whose carapace measures 79.0 cm and weighs 59 kilos, was found by the members of the ARCHELON Lakonikos team at Gytheion. The turtle was spotted floating on the surface in a very debilitated condition, rescued, and sent to the RC on 9 July 2016. She has no visible injuries, and X-rays do not reveal any ingested hooks or lines. Her condition is stable, and she is slowly regaining her strength.

‘Vassilia’ arrived at the RC on 15 July 2016 from Lefkada, where she had been found and rescued by Voula, a member of LAWS (Lefkada Animal Welfare Society). The loggerhead weighs 39 kilos and her carapace measures 64.4 cm. She had no visible injuries, but X-rays revealed that she was suffering from shell compaction (which means her stomach was filled with so many shells they could not be digested). She was given special pharmaceutical oil, which has helped her.

‘Flora’, an adult loggerhead with a carapace measuring 72.5 cm and weighing 39.0 kilos, was found by the ARCHELON Amvrakikos team at Kopraina and sent to the RC on 17 July 2016. Unfortunately, she had severe head trauma, brutally caused by intentional human action, and had to be put down.

‘Emiliani’, a loggerhead weighing 52 kilos, arrived at the RC on 18 July 2016 with a very severe head injury inflicted by human hands. Unfortunately, nothing could be done to help her, and she was put down.

‘Penelope’ arrived at the RC on 21 July 2016 from Skiathos with the help of Olympic Air. The small loggerhead has a carapace measuring 30.2cm and she weighs just 4 kilos. X-rays revealed that she has an ingested hook and look located deep in her stomach and intestines, making it impossible to remove it surgically. As part of her treatment, she is being given special pharmaceutical oil, and hopefully, she will be able to pass the hook and line naturally.

‘Bilbo’, an adult loggerhead whose carapace measures 76.7 cm and who weighs 60.0 kilos, arrived at the RC on 31 July 2016 from Kefalonia. The turtle had been rescued by the local animal welfare organization Wildlife Sense. X-rays revealed that the turtle had two ingested hooks, but unfortunately they were located deep within his body, making it impossible to remove them surgically. As part of his treatment, he is being given special pharmaceutical oil, and hopefully, he will be able to pass the hook and line naturally.

‘Lulu’, an adult loggerhead, was found in Porto Germano and brought to the RC by a local resident in his car. The turtle, whose carapace measures 71.1 cm and weighs 43.5 kilos, had ingested three hooks, all of which were located deep within her body. Fortunately, her treatment was successful, and she passed the hooks naturally.

Releases

‘Leon’, a loggerhead who arrived at the RC on 4 May 2016 in a very debilitated condition, was treated, regained his health, and released in Crete on 11 July 2016. For more information and photos, see: http://www.archelon.gr/contents/ourdeltia.php?row=row10&nid=848 (Note: unfortunately, this article is not available in English, but you can still enjoy the pictures in the Greek article.)

‘Jasmin’, a loggerhead who arrived at the RC on 6 December 2016 with a flipper injury, was released on Zakynthos on 17 July 2016.

For more information and photos, see: http://www.archelon.gr/eng/ourdeltia.php?row=row10&nid=847 and http://www.archelon.gr/eng/ourdeltia.php?row=row10&nid=850

Deaths

‘Niki’, a loggerhead sent to the RC from Porto Lagos on 8 June with a head injury intentionally caused by human action, died on 28 July 2016.

‘Anna’, a loggerhead sent to the RC from Thessaloniki on 10 June 2016 with a severe head injury intentionally caused by human action, died on 19 July 2016.

‘Athina’, a loggerhead who arrived at the RC on 27 June 2016 from Isthmia (Corinth) with a flipper injury, was euthanized on 1 July 2016 .

Special thanks to their following for their continued support and collaboration:

The Grecotel group for adopting ‘Leon’ for six months and the Grecotel Caramel Boutique and Resort in Crete for hosting Leon’s release

‘Jasmin’ was able to be treated thanks to the Crystal Beach Hotel and Nefis Travel in Zakynthos. Thanks also to Aegean Airlines for transporting ‘Jasmin’ from Athens to Zakynthos, and to The National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and local municipal authorities for their collaboration in releasing the turtle.

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