The very first hatchlings of the 2009 in Rethymno and Kyparissia Bay!
Likewise, excitement ran high when ARCHELONʼs volunteers in Peloponnesus, at the beach near “Vounaki” in the southern part of the Kyparissia Bay, watched 8 hatchlings emerging from the A2 nest and crawling to the sea.
So, this yearʼs hatchling period started on July 23rd while the nesting period had started on May 30th at the Bay of Kyparissia and on June 2nd at Rethymno.
In Greece, usually, the nesting season commences at the end of May and lasts until the end of August. During this stage, the females will come ashore at night to lay their eggs on the sandy nesting beaches. A female may deposit an average of 120 eggs into a 50-60 cm deep cavity, a process that may by repeated 3-4 times on that same summer.
The females usually return to the same beach where they hatched to nest every 2-3 years. The eggs will incubate in the warm sand for approximately 2 months until they are ready to hatch. At about 80 newly hatched sea turtles will dig out of each nest and run to the sea, something that happens at nightfall or very early in the morning.
One thing we should all be aware of is that hatchlings should be allowed to crawl to the sea unhindered; when they hatch bright lights from the houses, streetlights confuse them and lead them away form the sea, where they cannot survive.
Please, donʼt help them to make that road to the sea; this is natureʼs way to prepare them for the great journey ahead!
Only 1 or 2 in 1.000 hatchlings will survive to reach adulthood! The female ones will need 15-25 years to begin breeding and come back to the beach they were born to nest.
The question is: will the beach still be as remembered? The marine environment is under constant and increasing pressure. The situation of the coastal ecosystems is equally one of our chief concerns: nesting beaches are also under serious, real threats, demanding our caution and care.
Offering information & Inspiration
We run special projects to raise awareness and inform the public, both the residents and the visitors, concerning the importance of not only the sea turtlesʼ habitat but the coastal and marine environment as well.
Our Info Kiosks are open daily to give instructions and answer questions; on the beach, turtle patrol members check the nests and inform the beach users, whilst we frequently organize live presentations at hotels.
In this context it is relevant to note that each summer we manage to spread the information to more than 200.000 Greek and foreign visitors.
Take the time to speak with us & ask questions Take the time to learn about our efforts & how you can help
Remember, we share the beach and the sea with sea turtles and many other marine animals and creatures. What we do has a direct effect on their lives. Be-come a friend of ARCHELON, be-come a friend of the environment.
In August, the Sea Turtles Rescue Center in Glyfada is closed for visitors
“Kaveiros” from Samothraki is healthy and free!
RECENT NEWS
- OUR NEWS16/05/2025
Advancing sea turtle photo-ID research with artificial intelligence
Sea turtle facial scales remain stable throughout a turtle’s life allowing researchers to recognise individuals from photos, often taken over decades!
- OUR NEWS15/05/2025
Kyparissia Bay: Balancing Nature and Tourism
Αs the popularity of the protected area increases and pressures from tourism and climate change intensify, the question that arises is: How many people can this beach “bear” without degrading the environment?
- OUR NEWS07/05/2025
Discover the secret nature of Crete: Sea Turtle Beach Walk with ARCHELON
Live a unique ecotourism experience in Crete by participating in ARCHELON Sea Turtle Beach Walks on the nesting beaches of the Loggerhead, starting on May 15th in Chania and Rethymno. Now open for reservations on our website!
- OUR NEWS24/04/2025
Are You Over 50? The Sea Turtles Need You!
If you’re 50 or older and ready to dive into a unique conservation experience, we warmly invite you to join us. Help protect sea turtles, meet like-minded people, and discover the natural beauty of Greece with ARCHELON by your side.
- OUR NEWS22/04/2025
Turning the Tide: Sea Turtle Populations Show Signs of Recovery Worldwide
The first, after a decade, global study brings encouraging news for sea turtle conservation: more than half of their populations across the globe show signs of recovery. Listed among the authors is the Research Coordinator of ARCHELON, Aliki Panagopoulou PhD, who is mobilizing the long term field work of our Society on the nesting beaches of Greece.
- OUR NEWS17/04/2025
Special 2-week volunteering opportunity on the nesting beaches – we need you this May and June!
- OUR NEWS14/04/2025
Groundbreaking Study on Microplastic Pollution of Marine Turtle Nesting Beaches
ARCHELON took part in a recent global study that has uncovered alarming levels of microplastic contamination on marine turtle nesting beaches around the world.
- OUR NEWS09/04/2025
Become a Sea Turtle Guardian in Lakonikos Bay
Gracie and Claire, two dedicated individuals who made a significant impact on the sea turtle project of Lakonikos Bay in 2024, talked about their experience.
- OUR NEWS08/04/2025
Meeting of organizations, authorities and businessmen in Rethymno: Crete is preparing for the arrival of the turtles!
On Monday, April 7, we met for another year in the hospitable city of Rethymno to participate in the meeting organized by the Regional Unit of Rethymno on the topic of management measures for the protection of the loggerhead sea turtle!
- OUR NEWS31/03/2025
150 satellite tags for the protection of sea turtles
Since 2002, ARCHELON and its partners have placed 150 satellite and GSM tags on sea turtles monitoring their vast journeys across the Mediterranean!
- OUR NEWS24/03/2025
Become a Guardian of the Night: Volunteer with ARCHELON
On some select beaches, volunteer duties also include night patrols. During the hours when the presence of people on the nesting beaches is prohibited so as not to disturb the turtles, our trained volunteers start their shift, equipped with measuring instruments, research notebooks and red flashlights.
- OUR NEWS14/03/2025
Enriching the lives of rescued sea turtles
A recent study at ARCHELON's Sea Turtle Rescue Centre highlights the importance of environmental enrichment in improving the physical and psychological well-being of rescued sea turtles, aiding their rehabilitation and preparing them for successful release back into the wild.
- OUR NEWS24/02/2025
ARCHELON's Annual General Assembly
According to article 8 of the Statutes of ARCHELON Association, its’ members were invited to attend the Annual General Assembly on Saturday, 22 February 2025.
- OUR NEWS20/02/2025
From the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre in Egypt!
A sea turtle, previously rehabilitated at the ARCHELON’s Rescue Centre, has once again made headlines, this time internationally. The tagged turtle was discovered weak and injured on an Egyptian beach after the recent rough seas. This incident, as reported by the Egyptian news agency, underscores the ongoing need to protect the fragile Mediterranean marine environment.
- OUR NEWS17/02/2025
ARCHELON's turtle toy travels the country with students and teachers
We would like to warmly thank all the schools that participated in the Online Tours during the 2023-2024 school year and spread the message of sea turtle protection to the ends of the country! The online tours for the current school year have already started.