Joanne, whatʼs new at the Rescue Centre (March 2017)?
Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events in March 2017.
“If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope, and we can work.” (Jacques-Yves Cousteau, 1910-1997)
This advice from the great explorer and conservator of the seas is very appropriate for describing the people of ARCHELON (whether they are in the field, in the office, or at the Rescue Centre) who have faith and hope, and work very hard to help protect sea turtles and their environment all year round. This year, the unpredictable weather caused by global warming has affected sea turtles, resulting in many requiring treatment for hypothermia.
ARRIVALS
“Phaedra”, a loggerhead with deep neck and flipper injuries possibly caused by entanglement in a fishing line or net, arrived from the island of Tilos by the Mayor on 15 March 2017. The Mayor cared for the turtle in her own home with the help of the local veterinarian. The next day, she was transferred to the aquarium of Rhodes, where she received first aid from the aquarium vet, and was sent to the Rescue Center as soon as space was available for her. The turtle’s carapace measures 70.0 cm and she weighs 31.5 kilos. She is not eating yet, but is receiving appropriate care for her wounds. (She is named after the mythological daughter of King Minos of Crete, and the wife of Theseus of Athens.)
Many thanks to everyone involved in rescuing and transporting these turtles.
UPDATES
DEATHS
“Athinioli”, who had arrived on 5 September 2016 from Corinthos with a head injury, died as a result of her injuries on 22 February 2017.
“Aphroditi”, who had arrived on 2 October 2016 from Preveza with a general infection all over her body, died on 7 March 2017.
SPECIAL THANKS
... to Hartmann Hellas (http://gr.hartmann.info/) for their generous donation of medical supplies used in treating the turtles.
Did you know...
Sea turtles have been around for millions of years, and there is a reason why: they are very important for the maintenance of the health of the world’s ecosystems. In addition to helping keep coral reefs and sea grass colonies in good condition, they also bring important nutrients from the sea to the beaches and coastal dunes. They also help to preserve a balanced food web by eating sponges, jellyfish, etc., and (in the case of hatchlings) providing food for other animals. For a free downloadable report with beautiful photos, see
http://oceana.org/sites/default/files/reports/Why_Healthy_Oceans_Need_Sea_Turtles.pdf
Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the value of sea turtles, which are often deliberately and brutally killed or tortured for various reasons, perhaps because they may damage fishing nets or gear when they are caught in them and trying to escape. Fortunately, a new project funded by the WWF uses LED lights on nets to ‘warn’ turtles away from them: Turtles can see the lights (which fish cannot) and avoid the nets. Testing of these LED nets resulted in a 60% decrease in turtle bycatch, and a 20% increase in the target catch. For more information, see
http://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/spring-2017/articles/can-led-lights-save-sea-turtles.
Workshop in Rethymno for sea turtles
The protection of the Loggerhead Sea turtles in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos, Greece during 2016
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS27/09/2023
World Tourism Day 2023: Are there sea turtle-friendly hotels in north Crete?
But why is tourism important to sea turtles?
- 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
Interview with a volunteer: Lea Heinen, Rescue Centre Lea shares her experience volunteering at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre: “I think when a turtle starts to eat after a month of trying, when you can see the improvement or healing of a turtle's injury and when a turtle is released back into the sea, into its natural habitat, into its home - then you know that you are indeed saving turtles”.
- 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
ARCHELON invites kids and adults to celebrate the environment and the sea in an exciting way at the "Sea Turtle Festival" on Saturday, May 27 at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in the 3rd Marina of Glyfada.
- OUR NEWS07/06/2023
Announcement for all past volunteers of ARCHELON: Shall we meet this September?
Highlight: Hi everyone! This year marks 40 years of ARCHELON’s action for protecting sea turtles in Greece. During these four decades, thousands of volunteers from many countries joined our sea turtle projects and the Rescue Centre to help save the turtles. Let’s meet again this coming September and celebrate the animals we saved during all these years.
- 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…