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 NEWS02/07/2025
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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.
- OUR NEWS10/06/2025
New Adaptation Strategies for Sea Turtles and Mediterranean Monk Seals
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- OUR NEWS08/06/2025
World Oceans Day: Conservation and Anthropogenic “Wounds” in Laganas Bay, Zakynthos
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- OUR NEWS06/06/2025
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Sekania, a secluded 600-meter-long beach in Zakynthos, is a global model of success in biodiversity conservation, with more than 24,000 sea turtle nests recorded over the last 40 years.
- OUR NEWS05/06/2025
World Environment Day: Keeping Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches Safe from Plastics and Bulldozers
On June 5th, we celebrate World Environment Day, a day established by the United Nations in 1972. This year’s theme is #BeatPlasticPollution, and ARCHELON is calling for action on the sea turtle nesting beaches.
- OUR NEWS02/06/2025
Sea Turtles Return to Crete: A Shared Victory for Nature and Sustainable Travel
ARCHELON volunteers have just located the first sea turtle nests of the season on the beaches of Rethymno, Messara, and Chania. Now the challenge to prove that tourism destinations on Crete can make a significant move towards sustainability is on again.
- OUR NEWS29/05/2025
Amvrakikos Project 2025: Special Call for a Field Leader
ARCHELON is looking for a highly motivated person to lead its project in Amvrakikos Gulf, one of the few foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in Greece linking several populations nesting across the Mediterranean region.
- OUR NEWS22/05/2025
Sea turtle nesting has begun in Greece: learn what to look out for!
The first nests for 2025 have already been located and protected at Laganas beach in Zakynthos, Elaia beach in Kyparissia Bay and Pachia Ammos beach in Messara Bay in Crete!
- OUR NEWS16/05/2025
Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence
Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!
- OUR NEWS15/05/2025
Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism
Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?
- OUR NEWS07/05/2025
Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON
Live a unique ecotourism experience in Crete by participating in ARCHELON Sea Turtle Beach Walks on the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead, starting on May 15th in Chania and Rethymno. Now open for reservations on our website!
- OUR NEWS24/04/2025
Are You Over 50? The Sea Turtles Need You!
If you’re 50 or older and ready to dive into a unique conservation experience, we warmly invite you to join us. Help protect sea turtles, meet like-minded people, and discover the natural beauty of Greece with ARCHELON by your side.