In September 2026, Omiros, a male Loggerhead sea turtle with a remarkable story, passed away. Omiros spent the last 16 years of his life at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay, Cornwall, having traveled there from Greece with the assistance of ARCHELON.

His story began in June 2007, when he was found at Mavrovouni, Gytheio, suffering from a severe eye injuries, and was subsequently taken to the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada. At the time of his rescue, he weighed 42 kg and had a shell length of 74 cm. Despite the care and treatment he received, it was determined that his vision could not be restored. Consequently, releasing him back into the sea would not have been safe, as a blind turtle would be unable to cope with the dangers of the natural environment. He therefore required a permanent and suitable home.

After inquiries were made with various aquariums abroad, the Blue Reef Aquarium in Cornwall offered to house him. Matthew Slater, a former ARCHELON volunteer who had participated in the Rethymno Project in 1996, played a key role in this process. Matthew was working at the aquarium at the time and was instrumental in the preparations for the turtle's transport and arrival. Finally, once the necessary permits were secured, Omiros was flown from Greece to the United Kingdom on February 2, 2010. By then, he had grown significantly: his shell length had reached 75 centimeters and his weight 70 kilograms.

His arrival in Cornwall made headlines in Britain, with the BBC and other media outlets covering his story. At the Blue Reef Aquarium, Omiros found a safe environment and lived for over 16 years, serving as a unique "ambassador" for sea turtles and their conservation. Through his presence at the aquarium, countless visitors had the opportunity to see a popular species of Mediterranean wildlife up close and to learn about the threats sea turtles face in the wild. An information display featuring photos and details about ARCHELON’s work with turtles in Greece was also set up at the aquarium.

"For a sea turtle who spent the final years of his life unable to see the world, Omiros certainly left an extraordinary number of people looking at it differently", notes Blue Reef Aquarium writer Neil Bason.

ARCHELON extends its heartfelt thanks to the Blue Reef Aquarium, our former volunteer Matthew Slater, and everyone who cared for Omiros over the years and provided him with a safe home when returning him to the wild was no longer possible.