Mid-July of the COVID19 summer and ARCHELON’s teams are observing the usual peak in the number of nests of loggerhead sea turtles in all monitored nesting sites. Yet, things are very different in the projects, compared to past years.
 

The longest running program of sea turtle tagging in the Mediterranean proves that loggerheads can lay eggs for at least 33 years. This type of information is very important in the application of models for estimating population trends and species viability.

ARCHELON’s team located the first nest of the season on May 23 at Kommos beach and placed a protective cage to avoid disturbance. Morning surveys begin tomorrow on the beach of Rethymnon and in the coming weeks in Chania.

Two loggerhead nests marked the start of this year's ARCHELON counts on Zakynthos island, one located in Gerakas and one in Sekania, both recorded on May 26. A bit further to the east, in south Kyparissia bay, the team located twelve nests, from May 16 until today. And this is just the beginning!
 

Since 2016, ARCHELON has been involved in related research by the Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR) by providing samples from sea turtles that died at the Rescue Centre in Glyfada. As the first results of the research are heading for publication Dr. Eleni Kaberi, the project leader, gave us more information.

Two rescued female loggerhead sea turtles returned to their natural habitat, the sea, after a stay of about 10 months in ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Centre and the whole Life- Euroturtles team attended this event. ARCHELON was hosting the annual meeting of the project and partners from Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Malta were in Glyfada during most of last week.

“Chrysanthi” returned to her natural environment, the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea a few days ago and began its new life on the Missiria Rethymno beach in front of a crowd. All the attendees showed due respect to the animal and the team of ARCHELON volunteers who were there to inform and assist in the smooth outcome of the event.
 

On Monday, August 12 at 7:30 pm, many locals and visitors came to Kalo Nero beach in order to observe and admire Penelope as she entered the sea.

At the end of July 2019, twenty years after the establishment of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, we witness yet another turtle injury due to a boat collision in Laganas Bay.
 

For those looking for a more unique and educative activity for their family or friends in Athens, there is now the Sea Turtle Rescue Tour, a special visit to the Sea Turtle Rescue Center of ARCHELON in Glyfada!