Since 1983, the primary objective of ARCHELON,
the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece has been to protect
the sea turtles and their habitats in Greece through monitoring
and research, developing and implementing management plans,
habitat restoration, raising public awareness and rehabilitating
sick and injured turtles.
|The rehabilitation of «Adonis»|
A sea turtle named “Adonis”, after a three month stay in ARCHELON’s Rescue Center in Athens, went back to its natural habitat. “Adonis” is a juvenile sea turtle that weighs 22kg and is about 50cm long. It was transferred there on May 20th 2017 with plastic ingestion. There with the help of our volunteers and specialized veterinarians it was fully rehabilitated.
|Stop feeding the Caretta caretta in Zakynthos|
This summer the feeding of sea turtles with fruits and vegetables in Laganas Bay in Zakynthos is a major threat and cause of disturbance for this protected species. The Phenomenon was first recorded in the marine area of the National Marine Park of Zakynthos in September 2016. Unfortunately, it is being recorded to a much greater extent this year, from eco-tour and privately rented boats, in order to attract the wild animals by throwing fruits and vegetables, like tomatoes and peaches, to take clear photographs.
|Cause of death…propeller!|
On Friday, July 14, ARCHELON was informed by the National Marine Park of Zakynthos about the existence of an injured Caretta caretta turtle, which was floating in the port of the island.
|EVS in ARCHELON|
EVS Program continues to offer ARCHELON the chance to host volunteers from other European Countries for 2017. This year another 3 volunteers have been able to meet new people and volunteers from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds and share the common experience of ARCHELON. ACHELON is the place to be for gaining a lot of friends, participating in a project for a good cause as well as feeling like a second home. Please see below their thoughts about how they combined living in a foreign country as EVS Volunteers and how ARCHELON affected their lives.
|The first nest of a Caretta caretta in Greece has hatched in Zakynthos|
We are delighted to announce that the volunteers of ARCHELON, while on their morning survey on Sekania on July 21st, discovered the first hatched nest of the 2017 season!
|500 nests of the Caretta caretta sea turtles in Zakynthos!|
ARCHELON, the Sea Turtle Society of Greece, is delighted to announce that nest numbers have reached 500 on the island of Zakynthos. This period is considered the most important for the reproduction of the species as it records the highest levels of spawning.
|Joanne, what¢s new at the Rescue Centre (June 2017)?|
Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events in June 2017.
|Joanne, what¢s new at the Rescue Centre (May 2017)?|
Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events in May 2017.
|Our LIFE EUROTURTLES project: «Love is the goal. LIFE is the journey»|
The project has already begun since September 2016. It is a European LIFE project, in which ARCHELON is one of the main Beneficiaries and represents Greece. Altogether 9 beneficiaries from 6 countries (Greece, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Cyprus) are participating jointly to protect nests in nesting areas using new technologies
|Participation of ARCHELON at the MedPAN marine turtle exchange visit|
The aim of this exchange visit was to create a Mediterranean network for sharing knowledge and information on protection and management issues of sea turtles in Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas.
|Joanne, what¢s new at the Rescue Centre (April 2017)?|
Our volunteer at the Rescue Centre Joanne Stournara updates us on the events in April 2017.
|The Cretan hospitality has welcomed the first nest of 2017|
After a long waiting, restless efforts and patience the researchers of ARCHELON in Rethymno, recorded on 4 June in the morning, the first nest of 2017 in Crete, in the region Sfakaki.
|The rain did not prevent the celebration of World Turtle Day|
Though the rain was unstoppable and the temperature was considerably low, about 350 people left their home to participate in the celebration that we organize each year on the last Sunday of May.
|The first Caretta caretta nest for 2017 in Lakonikos bay|
During the early morning of Wednesday, 31st May 2017, the first Caretta caretta nest was laid in Lakonikos bay, and more specifically on the beach of Mavrovouni.
|Volunteers are the motivating force of ARCHELON¢s work and achievements|
From the first day of its foundation, ARCHELON welcomes volunteers from all over the world. People of different ages, interests, nationalities and habits. The volunteers are those who compose the nature of ARCHELON over thirty-four years now and they are the motivating force of its actions and its heritage.
|Dead sea turtle in Zakynthos|
The team found this very recently dead loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta which had ingested a large long-line fishing hook that had become lodged in the turtles throat. Worldwide, and in the Mediterranean, interactions with coastal fisheries are the greatest cause of death for sea turtles.
|The first nest of loggerhead sea turtle in the Peloponnese!|
On the very early hours of Monday, May 22nd, during morning survey, the volunteers of ARCEHLON located the first Caretta caretta nest in Kyparissiakos bay and more specifically near the Vounaki area.
|Students of the Peloponnese learn about ARCHELON and the marine environment|
The nesting season is just around the corner and here in Kyparissiakos bay, ARCHELON is more than ready to greet the nesting turtles. Meanwhile, our educational programs just started last week, whose target audience is students of all ages.
|Two Ambassadors join their forces for ARCHELON|
ARCHELON Ambassadors, such as Sicily and Lydia, assist in our enormous efforts of making the dream reality each year for the monitoring and protection of sea turtles and their habitats.