Our excitement is doubled for the Peloponnese, as hatchlings emerge in Kyparissiakos Bay as well as Koroni
Unfortunately some of those tracks didn’t lead to the sea but to the back of the beach and onto the road; so those hatchlings never reached their final destination. This incident happened in the beach of Elea in southern Kyparissiakos bay due to artificial lights present in the area during nighttime (municipality lights). Sea turtles are photo tactic; which means that they tend to be attracted by the brightest point which, naturally during nighttime is the sea. That’s why light pollution on nesting beaches posses a huge threat for the survival of the sea turtles and if we want to protect this species we need to find a solution.
In Koroni the first hatchlings were able to reach the sea successfully. That was a very emotional moment, both for the volunteers and the visitors that were present in Zagka beach and saw the tracks that the first hatchlings left on the sand behind them.
In these difficult times that our country faces; with a wide range of social and political problems many people would not consider the environment as an aspect that needs our attention. This attitude would lead Greece; to be a country without forests, beaches, birds, fish, and turtles… The natural environment is a priceless heritage and its protection can give us the strength to overcome the problems that each one of us faces daily.
Information: Polymnia Nestoridou, Peloponnese Project Coordinator, Tel.:: +30 6951009785
The first hatchlings of Zakynthos on Sekania beach
As of today, the first hatchlings of 2016 will be swimming in the Cretan waters
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