Sea Turtle nesting has begun on the Greek beaches!
This year the first nest was found in Zakynthos by members of the National Marine Park while observing Gerakas beach on May 12th 2016.
Zakynthos is the largest nesting habitat in the Mediterranean and the first nest in Greece is usually made there. The Caretta caretta turtles come to Zakynthos from different parts of the Mediterranean.
Sea turtles gather from March - April in the Gulf of Laganas where they mate and the females prepare for nesting.
Apart from Zakynthos, ARCHELON systematically works also in other nesting areas, such as the Kyparissiakos Gulf, which is the second largest nesting area in the Mediterranean, the Laconian Gulf, Koroni, Romanos, three areas in Crete (Rethymno, Chania, Messara Bay), Messolongi and Amvrakikos Bay.
The first nest in Zakynthos was spotted just in time before the start of the field programs where the ARCHELON volunteers are currently preparing the 9 Research Field Stations.
During nesting season in 2015 (May – October), 563 volunteers from all over the world monitored 75 km of beach where 3.248 nests were made from which 2.342 were protected and 446 adult turtles were observed and tagged during night survey.
Due to the efforts of ARCHELON’s volunteers, 153.434 hatchlings (from the 211.695 that hatched) were “saved” and safely reached the sea.
Information: Zakynthos Program Coordinator, Anna Lamaj, tel.: 6940 454 976.
As every year, the loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta has returned to the Bay of Kyparissia. Welcome back!
The protection of the Loggerhead Sea turtles in the nesting habitats of Crete during 2015. (In Greek)
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