People are supporting wildlife conservation
Humans and turtles: we can all live together. Anyone who visits the Rescue Centre or meets ARCHELON volunteers on the sea turtle nesting beaches of Greece, understands the effort that goes into realizing our goal.
For 40 years, ARCHELON, a non-profit Association, has been monitoring and researching the sea turtle populations and habitats of Greece as well as rescuing and treating injured and sick turtles found all over the country. However, these actions, as well as raising public awareness actions for nature and the environment, could not become a reality without ARCHELON’s volunteers and supporters.
More than 1,300 symbolic sea turtle adoptions were made in 2022. Almost half of the "adopters" were people who met the volunteers during the summer in Rethymno, Zakynthos, Chania, Kyparissia Bay, Koroni and Lakonikos Bay. There they learned about the dangers that threaten these marine animals, the importance of the few nesting beaches for their survival and they received instructions on how to behave on the nesting beaches. They ‘adopted’ a baby turtle, a mother turtle or a nest, making it possible for us to cover 110km of nesting beaches, protecting more than 3,800 sea turtle nests. "It gives us great pleasure that some of our friends from the nesting areas renew their adoptions every year and have a whole collection of stuffed ARCHELON turtles", says Elli Tarabe, ARCHELON’s Communications Officer.
The average daily costs of treatment and food for an injured sea turtle at the Rescue Centre is 5€. The ‘adoptions’ at the ARCHELON Rescue Centre in Glyfada are supporting the injured sea turtles under care, and cover each animal's nutrition and medicine for one month, 10 days or even a few days, as several school classes do.
"We especially thank all the children who collected money to cover the costs of a hospitalization for an injured turtle at the Rescue Centre", says Anna Kontoleon, the Education Officer of ARCHELON. About 10,000 students and teachers in schools from all over the country participated in educational activities, during 2022.
Many people decided to ‘adopt’ after visiting the Rescue Centre, impressed by the work done here for the wellbeing of wildlife. Several others chose to book a Sea Turtle Rescue Tour, available with a 10 day sea turtle adoption. With their support it was possible to continue the care of 29 turtles from previous years and receive 33 new arrivals of injured and sick sea turtles. "We welcomed about 11,000 visitors during 2022, who were informed about sea turtles and the marine environment and contributed, in one way or another, to the safe rehabilitation of 32 turtles back into the sea after their recovery at the Rescue Centre” says Dimitris Fytilis, the Rescue Centre Manager.
The amount raised from the donations of volunteers, students and visitors at the Rescue Centre in Glyfada and the Information Stations in Zakynthos, Peloponnese and Crete was €350,000. "None of ARCHELON’s achievements would be possible without the financial support of these people. We owe everyone a huge THANK YOU", says Daphne Mavrogiorgos, the Director of the organisation.
The effort continues in 2023. At the moment, the ARCHELON Rescue Center hosts 16 sea turtles, which are being treated for head injuries or lung infections. You can cover the medical expenses of one of them by making an adoption. Each adopter receives a certificate and informative material for their turtle as well as the ARCHELON newsletter.
Make an adoption now.
Find out more about the sea turtles currently at the Centre.
Find out more about how to support ARCHELON.
Waiting list for schools that want to visit the ARCHELON Rescue Centre
Gail Schofield
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.