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.