The first nest of Caretta- Caretta in Zakynthos!
One of the most important events concerning the sea turtle, Caretta- caretta, is the first nest of the season, which was located on the island of Zakynthos on the 16th of May at the Gerakas nesting beach. The first nest was found by volunteers of ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece. The first nest is a significant event for the life cycle of the sea turtle, as it shows their preference to reproduce on the very same beach from where they were born.
The Caretta- caretta turtles travel from different parts of the Mediterranean Sea to the Protected Area of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, making it the largest breeding habitat in the Mediterranean. It is common for the nesting beaches of Zakynthos to host the first nest of the season in all of Greece. During the months of March and April, the turtles begin the gather in the Bay of Laganas to mate, and where the females prepare for nesting.
The Managing Agency of the NMPZ and ARCHELON are systematically active in the Bay of Laganas and collect daily scientific data on the life cycle of the sea turtle during nesting, hatching and during the excavation period.
While the first nest found in Greece has delighted and excited the volunteers of ARCHELON and the stuff of NMPZ, the fact that it was found in Zakynthos once again calls for more attention to be brought towards the activity of both the visitors to the nesting beaches and the marine area by the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, and by the business owners working in these areas.
National Marine Park of Zakynthos: http://www.nmp-zak.org/
ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece: www.archelon.gr
Zakynthos, 16/05/2017
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