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
‘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.
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.
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.
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.
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS29/08/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS27/08/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS20/08/2025
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”.
- OUR NEWS14/08/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS31/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS25/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS21/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS21/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS16/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS15/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS09/07/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS02/07/2025
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
- OUR NEWS01/07/2025
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!
- OUR NEWS23/06/2025
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.
- OUR NEWS16/06/2025
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.