The best way to celebrate the WORD ENVIRONMENT DAY 2010

To create a good collaboration you need 4 things: opportunity, good will, time, and patience. This miracle happened after about 6 years of work and effort.

The idea of a rehabilitation network in the Mediterranean region first appeared in 2004 during a workshop organized by ARCHELON in Glyfada. Although the need for a network was discussed, no objectives were realized.

After the 1st workshop on veterinary medicine which took place in Tunisia during the 4th Mediterranean Conference. Presentations were made by different rehabilitation centers. The need for collaboration became more than obvious. This time a date was set for the next meeting.

A 2nd one was organized in Italy in 2009 by the Rescue Center of Lampeduza. It was decided to combine both presentations as well as a practical approach (hook removal operations, hematology). People from 5 different countries took part.

Further steps were taken at the International Sea Turtle Symposium organized in Goa in 2010. Half a day was dedicated to rehabilitation. About 50 people from different countries followed this meeting. The need for sharing protocols and techniques was enhance with the creation of new rehabilitation centers. The mailing list about rehabilitation on sea turtle was reactivated.

Discussions took place between the Rescue Center of Lampeduza and the ARCHELON Rehabilitation Center to organize a practical training course on hook and fishing line removal.

Veterinarian Antonio Di Bello and biologist Daniela Freggi from the Lampeduza Rescue Center were invited to Greece to teach their innovative approach on hook and line removal. Were also present: Lito Kritseli (ARCHELON veterinarian), Pavlos Tsaros (ARCHELON Rescue Network coordinator), Manuela Sofoulis (veterinarian) and Anja Dulleck (veterinarian). Volunteers from the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rehabiliation Center were there to assist and document the operations. Hariklia Kopsida representing the board came on Sunday.

5 surgical operations were conducted over the weekend (5-6 June 2010) covering every case. Some turtles had one hook (from small to big), some had more than one, and some had just the fishing line.
Hooks were removed from the esophagus, stomach or the intestines showing the wide range of approaches to hook removal. New anesthesia protocol was elaborated and general medical therapies were discussed.

All 5 turtles were successfully operated and were returned to their tanks the same day. They should be released in the next few weeks.

The next step should be to travel to Lampeduza to finish the training.

A workshop should also be organized to expand this collaboration to other organizations.
(P.T.)