05/04/2011

Turtles from Western Greece currently treated at the Rescue Centre in Glyfada

The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada utilizes the work of volunteers to help rehabilitate sea turtles that are found injured on the beaches and seas of Greece. Volunteers stay for either six months through the European Voluntary Service, or independently for at least four weeks. They are also supported by volunteers who live in Athens and help us once a week on their spare time.

Most sea turtles are injured by being accidentally caught in fishing nets or on large fishing hooks. A significant number is further injured by deliberate injuries from the fishermen that catch them, and these injuries are mostly on the head. Some fishermen deliver injured sea turtles to the port police, while others put them back in the water to be found later on the nearby coasts. Those who are lucky enough are found while they are still alive and with the help of locals and the port police they are transferred to the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada.

Turtles that arrive at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre are given daily treatment to heal their injuries or illness, and are kept in sea-water tanks until they are ready to safely return to the sea. This can take from a few months to several years.

Around fifty turtles arrive at the Rescue Centre every year, and about 60% of them survive and are released back into the sea. Most turtles arrive during the spring and summer; this is the time turtles come to the nesting beaches to reproduce. We receive very few turtles during the winter months, although we still receive many reports of turtles which are found dead.

All injured turtles are given a name by the people who find them or by the volunteers that receive them and attend to their treatment. Some turtles are adopted by people who wish to support our work financially; this is significant help to our difficult and expensive task, since the government and its agencies which are responsible for these animals offer very little financial help.

There are currently 15 turtles at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre, with a variety of injuries and durations of stay. The following paragraphs are a short presentation of 7 turtles which arrived from Western Greece, written by the volunteers who treat them.

Artemis by Wilhelm Bodmark.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-artemis.jpg

Andreas by Wilhelm Bodmark.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-ANDREAS.jpg

Marilena by Rebecca Langstrom.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-MARILENA.jpg

Smapo by Lindsey Death.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-smapo.jpg

Smapo has recently started eating on his own, which is great news. He was being tube fed twice a week until we discovered that although he wouldnʼt touch fish or squid, he did have an appetite for sea urchins. This meant that someone had to regularly venture into the sea to dive for urchins for his dinner. Now he is eating fish we only fetch urchins occasionally for a treat.

Nondas by Lindsey Death.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-nontas.jpg

At 25kg Nondas is still a teenage turtle of unknown sex and has a distinctive colour of brown to his carapace which is much lighter than most of the other turltles. He can also be easily recognized by his flipper flapping on the side of the tank and surface of the water to attract attention.

Pelagia by Molly McCharger.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-pelagia.jpg

Dina by Duncan Howitt-Marshall.

oi-xelwnes-apo-thn-dytikh-ellada-pou-perithalpontai-sto-kentro-diaswshs-sth-glyfada-dina.jpg

Due to the severity of her head injury she is likely to have extensive damage to the nerves and muscle tissue in her head and neck. Her head tilts to the left and her hind flippers are tightly tucked under her carapace; a sure sign of stress and discomfort. Her injury has all the hallmarks of blunt force trauma, most likely a cruel human strike. It will take a great deal of time to heal. Despite this grim prognosis, Dina is a true testament to the robust nature of these extraordinary animals. Loggerhead sea turtles have remained unchanged for approximately 40 million years. Their tough armoured exterior helps to protect them from injury from their natural enemies, but the strength of simple tools like hammers, axes, propellers, fishing gear and even shotguns in combination with human brutality are unfortunately exterminating them in unprecedented rates. We struggle daily so that Dina and the other injured turtles at the Rescue Centre may survive against the odds.

Edited and tranlsated by Nikos Vallianos with input from Wilhelm Bodmark, Rebecca Langstrom, Johannes Kupke, Lindsey Death, Ida Kotjerba, Molly McCharger, Duncan Howitt-Marshall, Pavlos Tsaros, and Nikos Vallianos.

RECENT NEWS

  1. OUR NEWS
    14/03/2025

    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.

    Read more
  2. OUR NEWS
    24/02/2025

    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.

    Read more
  3. OUR NEWS
    20/02/2025

    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.

    Read more
  4. OUR NEWS
    17/02/2025

    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.

    Read more
  5. OUR NEWS
    12/02/2025

    Online Presentation of Results 2024

    Last year, 500 volunteers from all over the world came to help turtles in Greece! What did they achieve? Join us to find out!

    Read more
  6. OUR NEWS
    11/02/2025

    Historic Green Sea Turtle Nest Discovered on Rhodes Island, Greece

    This species is globally endangered and the recent discovery is particularly significant as it suggests a possible shift in green turtle breeding areas.

    Read more
  7. OUR NEWS
    04/02/2025

    Joanne's Lifelong Passion: volunteering at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

    Joanne's lifelong passion for sea turtles led her to volunteer at the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Greece, where she dedicates her time to educating visitors and contributing to the organization's conservation efforts.

    Read more
  8. OUR NEWS
    02/02/2025

    2 years of joint systematic efforts to protect Greece's largest wetland

    Read more
  9. OUR NEWS
    28/01/2025

    The ARCHELON Recap for 2024: We kept on fighting for Sea Turtles and the protection of the Oceans

    2024 was the year that the recovery of the loggerhead sea turtle breeding population in Kyparissia Bay has been confirmed! This site now hosts the largest breeding population in the Mediterranean, which has been growing steadily in the past years thanks to the consistent long-term nest protection efforts of ARCHELON. It was also the warmest year globally on record when, on the side of our heavy core business workload, we made time to strengthen our commitment to volunteerism and sustainable tourism.

    Read more
  10. OUR NEWS
    20/01/2025

    Thank You to our 2024 Field Leaders: The Heart of Sea Turtle Conservation

    At ARCHELON, we owe much of our success to the dedication and passion of our Field Leaders. These incredible individuals guide our volunteers throughout their work in the field, ensuring that our mission to protect sea turtles is carried out with precision, care, and enthusiasm.

    Read more
  11. OUR NEWS
    16/01/2025

    The sweet side of healing: Why honey is a secret weapon for saving injured sea turtles.

    The antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of honey help fight infections in open wounds, a common problem for injured sea turtles.

    Read more
  12. OUR NEWS
    18/12/2024

    An injured Loggerhead sea turtle returns to the ARCHELON Rescue Centre with plastics in its digestive system.

    Greece has made progress in cutting down on plastic bag use, but we all need to do more. Sea pollution from plastic is still a major threat, harming both people and marine life.

    Read more
  13. OUR NEWS
    06/12/2024

    ARCHELON is on the Frontline of Sea Turtle Rescue in the Mediterranean.

    For the first time, we have conducted CT scans for accurate diagnoses and started special blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor the health of sea turtles under our care.

    Read more
  14. OUR NEWS
    03/12/2024

    Summer 2025: Lead the Way in Sea Turtle Conservation and become a Field Leader with ARCHELON!

    A limited number of experienced and capable volunteers are selected each year for the positions of Field Leaders on the ARCHELON projects. Applications and short CVs for 2025 are now accepted!

    Read more
  15. OUR NEWS
    25/11/2024

    Make this gift-giving season more magical: Adopt a Sea Turtle for your loved ones!

    Whether it's for the wildlife lover in your life, or someone who cares about the planet, an adoption from ARCHELON is a present that keeps on giving.

    Read more
1 out of 0
Subscribe to our newsletter!
Learn about our latest actions and find out about our programs and how you can help sea turtles!