Our volunteers from abroad join us right on time for the hatching season
Mid-July of the COVID19 summer and ARCHELON’s teams are observing the usual peak in the number of nests of loggerhead sea turtles in all monitored nesting sites. Yet, things are very different in the projects, compared to past years. There are much fewer volunteers participating and all of them are carefully implementing precautions against COVID-19.
By now, most of the placements are covered. Applications of returning volunteers or those wishing to stay longer than 4 weeks are given priority. The number of volunteers finally confirmed for Zakynthos, Kyparissia and the Rescue Centre, is less than half of that in previous years. Rethymno and Lakonikos projects are run by staff and a handful of volunteers who will be staying until the end of the season. The nesting beaches of Chania, Messara in Crete and Koroni in south Peloponnese are so far monitored by local volunteers. Amvrakikos project and west Greece will be implemented by ARCHELON’s staff in different dates.
Legal provisions for eliminating photo- pollution on nesting beaches are in place in Greece. Local authorities are aware of them, as well as local businesses. The question is: will these coffee shops, bars, guest houses, hotels, restaurants near the beaches cover their lights in the coming weeks? Stay tuned for more news, on that front.
Turn off the lights on the nesting beaches of the sea turtle in Rethymno and Chania.
Important decisions on COVID-19 precautions in ARCHELON’s projects - July 2020
RECENT NEWS
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Looking towards the upcoming nesting season, the tourism community of Chania gathered at the city’s Town Hall.
- OUR NEWS08/04/2026
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The story of 'Everest' began in May 2024 in Preveza, when the sea turtle was found with a severe, intentional head injury. Upon arrival at the Rescue Centre, its condition was critical: malnourished, weighing just 81 kg, and suffering from serious buoyancy problems that made survival in the sea impossible.
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Neither the African dust nor the sandstorm of last Wednesday stood in the way of ARCHELON's event at the Rethymno City Hall!
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ARCHELON invites you to join its field projects and actively protect sea turtles and their habitats.
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The Annual General Assembly of the Association
ARCHELON's Members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, February 28 at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.
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Join us for the Online Presentation of 2025 Results!
On Monday, March 23rd, we have the chance to meet again online and share what we accomplished together in the past year.