The very first hatchlings of the 2009 in Rethymno and Kyparissia Bay!

24/07/2009

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

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