16/11/2015

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

Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events from 1-30 September 2015.

As is usual at this time of year, with the end of the nesting and hatching season and also less people out on the beaches or on the sea, the number of injured turtles arriving at the RC decreases. Unfortunately, however, five new injured turtles arrived this month.

Arrivals

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

‘Raphaella’, a Caretta caretta (carapace length 77.5 cm, weight 54.5 kg), arrived on 11 September 2015 from Mykonos with a slight head injury and an ingested hook.

Jo’, a Caretta caretta (carapace length 59.5 cm, weight 26 kilos), arrived on 18 September 2015 from Zakynthos. She had no visible injuries, but X-rays revealed that her stomach was filled with shells. The reason for this blockage is unknown at the moment, and she is receiving medication to hopefully improve this condition.

Liam’, a Caretta caretta (carapace length 35.5 cm, weight 5 kilos), arrived on 19 September 2015 from Evia. The turtle had a flipper injury from entanglement with a fishing line and also an ingested hook, which will be surgically removed shortly. ‘Liam’ arrived together with a second, small turtle named ‘Baby’ (carapace length 28 cm, weight 2.5 kg), who was entangled in the same fishing line. Fortunately, ‘Baby’ had no injuries and was released.

Deaths

Damon’, a Caretta caretta (carapace length 63.0 cm, weight 25 kilos), who had arrived on 29 August 2015 from Skopelos with a head injury, died on 27 September 2015 as a result of his injury.

Releases

Besides the turtle ‘Baby’ mentioned above, two other turtles were released in September.

Angelos’, a green turtle who had arrived on 14 June 2014 from Sagiada with a head injury, was released on 27 September 2015 by boat into the Saronic Bay. On that day, an underwater dance performance called ‘Drops of Breath’, was organized in collaboration with Aqua Divers Club. After the performance, one of the dancers proposed to another! The new couple were chosen to release ‘Angelos’ into the Saronic Bay, close to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion.

Zina’, a Caretta caretta (carapace 68.0 kg, weight 29 kg), who had arrived on 23 June 2015 from Skopelos with a head injury, was successfully released on a quiet beach near Thymari, Attica on 30

September 2015.

Turtle News

Last month we reported on the arrival of ‘Persa’ (Caretta caretta; carapace 64.5cm long, weight 22.5 kilos) who had arrived from Amfiloxia on 22 August 2015 with a severe head injury. The injury was so severe that the turtle suffered neurological damage, causing her head to be tilted to the left. At the RC, in cases like this, the damage may sometimes heal, but it will very likely take a long time to happen. This is the first time I have seen an injury of this type, and it is truly tragic.

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

Education

World Dream Day: “Transforming the World One Dream at a time.

Held within each dream is hope for the future. Held within each dreamer is [a] wealth of potential. World Dream Day seeks to unleash human potential and by doing so transform the world.”

http://www.dayfordreamers.com/

To celebrate World Dream Day, RC Co-ordinator Pavlos Tsaros decided to organize an event about dreams, directed to both adults and children, on 26 September 2015. Visitors were taken on a tour of the rescue center and were informed about threats faced by sea turtles. Afterwards, each was given a piece of paper with a dream bubble on it, and they were asked to answer the question ‘What do turtles dream about?’ by drawing a picture in the dream bubble. Photos of the drawing will be posted on the official ARCHELON Facebook page. Please LIKE our Facebook page and follow us for future events. Many thanks to all the Greek volunteers who came to help out that day.

joanne-ti-nea-apo-to-kentro-diaswshs-septembrios-2015-Dream_day2.jpg

The International School of Zug and Luzern (ISZL) has been collaborating with the RC through Aqua Divers Club for three years, combining diving instruction with volunteering at the RC. These high school students have always been really motivated, going as far as fund-raising back home for the RC. For three days this September, they came every morning to work with RC volunteers, doing both maintenance jobs and caring for the turtles. Among other things, they renovated the front part of Pavlos’ office and fixed the toolshed door. We would like to especially thank our volunteer John for supervising all the maintenance work. Many thanks to all the students and teachers for the huge amount of work they achieved in three days.

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

Did you know...

At the end of the summer, the RC starts to prepare for the coming winter season. So far, the weather is good enough so that the outdoor tanks can still be used and rehabilitated turtles can safely be released back into the sea. Sea turtles cannot be kept outdoors in tanks when the cold weather hits, and must be moved indoors, where there are a limited number of tanks. During the coldest part of the winter, aquarium electric heaters are used to keep the water in the indoor tanks at the proper temperature. Each heater costs around 30 euros. If you would like to contribute for those heaters, contact Pavlo Tsaros, the RC Co-ordinator.

Please LIKE the official ARCHELON Facebook page “ΑΡΧΕΛΩΝ (the official page of) the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece» and follow us for future events.

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

RECENT NEWS

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. OUR NEWS
    23/10/2024

    Growing Beyond Boundaries: A Volunteer's Transformation

    “Through volunteering in Chania, I was able to go beyond my limits and discover a new world,” says Hyerim Ryu, explaining her motivation and sharing her experience of 5 weeks volunteering with ARCHELON.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    18/10/2024

    Is there any progress on establishing an all-embracing Marine Park in the Ionian Sea?

    We are awaiting the results of the study with great interest, as the establishment of the new Marine Park in the Ionian Sea will be a landmark for the protection of sea turtles in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    16/10/2024

    Greece's Marine Protected Areas remain unprotected

    A new report, by nine environmental organizations, identifies serious deficiencies in the protection of the most important Greek marine habitats, stressing the urgent need for immediate action

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    14/10/2024

    2025 Projects: Is it your turn to save the sea turtles?

    ARCHELON is thrilled to announce the volunteering projects for 2025. If you're passionate about nature conservation and eager to make a positive impact, we invite you to join our dedicated team of volunteers.

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    30/09/2024

    Reunite with Your Passion: Become an ARCHELON Ambassador!

    Are you passionate about sea turtle conservation and want to make a positive impact on their survival? Becoming an ARCHELON ambassador is a fantastic way to contribute to this important cause.

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    27/09/2024

    Transforming Rethymno: Sustainable tourism opportunities with the sea turtle as ambassador

    With sea turtles as its ambassadors, Rethymno has the opportunity to become a global leader in sustainable tourism. By offering responsible ecotourism experiences, the tourism industry can create a legion of passionate advocates for ocean conservation.

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    18/09/2024

    Counting the Loggerhead nests in Zakynthos - the work of an army of ants

    For the past 41+ years, ARCHELON has been counting annually nests laid by loggerhead turtles on the island of Zakynthos, one of most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean.

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    17/09/2024

    Successful wrap up of Amvrakikos project for 2024 marking two decades of dedicated work

    ARCHELON is a beacon of hope for sea turtles in Greece's Amvrakikos Gulf. From rescuing injured turtles to monitoring their population characteristics and their migration patterns, ARCHELON's work has been contributing to the survival of these protected animals for the last 20 years.

    Read more
  15. OUR NEWS
    09/09/2024

    Educational Programs 2024-2025: Inspire the Next Generation of Conservationists with ARCHELON!

    Last year, 15,000 students arrived at the Rescue Centre and were fascinated by the wonders of sea turtle conservation.

    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!