Thanks to the care of the Naxos Wildlife Protection Society, the nest of a green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatched successfully and the hatchlings made their way to the sea. This is the first recorded green sea turtle nesting event on Naxos and in the Cyclades.

While the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests on approximately 100 km of beaches across Greece, the green turtle prefers warmer waters, and until this summer, its nesting in Greece had been documented by ARCHELON on Rhodes and Crete. The emergence of a nest on Naxos is a sign that the geographical range of the nesting beaches of this threatened species in the Mediterranean may be expanding.

People observing the nest on Naxos got a first-hand experience of hatchling disorientation due to light pollution. This was exactly the same challenge ARCHELON has been addressing with its conservation projects for decades on loggerhead nesting beaches in several locations of Zakynthos, the Peloponnese, and Crete. It is clear that intense artificial lighting near the nesting beaches is a common threat for all sea turtle species, as it can mislead hatchlings and drive them into dangerous paths. In our case, thanks to the swift action and vigilance of the Naxos Wildlife Protection Society, the disoriented hatchlings were guided safely to the sea.

ARCHELON has a long-standing and close cooperation with the Naxos Wildlife Protection Society in sea turtle rehabilitation and monitoring. The bonds between the two organizations, as well as with other local groups, have been strengthened through the Wildlife Rescue Cooperation Network in Greece. This network, established in 2022, promotes knowledge-sharing, volunteer training, and rapid response in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

A big congratulations to our friends in Naxos for their timely interventions. Here’s to many more in the years to come!

• First Recorded Nesting of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) on Naxos and in the Cyclades
• A unique experience was enjoyed this evening by the residents and visitors of Apollonas in Naxos, when dozens of green baby turtles emerged from their nest.