Archelon: Marina Turtles care and protection

Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, takes successively action, more than 30 years in the protection of the sea turtles and their habitats in Greece through monitoring and researching, developing and implementing management plans, habitat restoration, raising public awareness, and rehabilitating sick and injured turtles.

Archelon

Archelon, which was founded in 1983, is a nonprofit organization, that manages the major loggerhead nesting areas in Greece, that are Zakynthos, Bays of Kyparissia and Lakonikos, and Crete.

Archelon is a partner to the Mediterranean Action Plan, a member of the European Union for the Conservation of the Coasts.

The members of Archelon participate in the Marine Turtle Specialist Group. They contribute to the formulation of the international strategy for the conservation of sea turtles. The association aims to protect the turtles, their nests, and the management of coastal ecosystems.

The first Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in the Mediterranean, was established in 1994 in Glyfada, in co-operation with the Municipality of Glyfada and the financial support of the Environmental Ministry.

The rescue center is located in five wagons which were renovated, donated by the Greek Railway Organisation. Functions of the Rescue Centre include the turtles' medical treatment, the elimination of stranded sea turtles. The centre focus on public motivation and awareness through the internet, via the website www.archelon.gr, and media publications.

300 dead or injured turtles every year

Each year about 300 dead or injured turtles are reported to the rescue center through the National Rescue Network. About 50 injured sea turtles are transported to the Centre and if they are cured then they are released back to their natural environment.

Archelon Volunteers

The function and maintenance of the Rescue Centre is based mainly on volunteers. Every year almost 50 volunteers work on sea turtle treatment, maintenance, and public awareness and almost 500 enthusiastic volunteers, come each summertime from all parts of the world, like Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan, and other countries.

Archelon's campaigns

Archelon's campaigns are carried out with the collaboration of Ministries and environmental organisations.

Archelon's project areas

Archelon's project areas are in Zakynthos, Rethimno, and Chania in Crete, Messara, Kyparrisia, Laconicos, Koroni. The projects include the program “Neda” - Giannitsochori in Peloponnese - and project area Amvrakikos.

In December 1999 the government established the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, which is the first National Park to protect the loggerhead sea turtle in the Mediterranean Sea. Archelon's systematic surveys have confirmed that the Bay of Laganas, in Zakynthos, is the most important nesting area for Caretta caretta in the Mediterranean Sea.

Every year, many students visit the Rescue Center, where they take part in awareness programs and more than 15.000 students are informed through the programs of the Environmental Education that conducts the Association.

Archelon is a non-governmental organization, nature-oriented, which is devoted to the protection of the lives of abandoned marine turtles.

If you would like to work as a volunteer in turtle conservation projects in Greece, if you are enthusiastic and committed, enjoy working in nature, and want to meet other motivated people from Europe and all over the world, you may find out more in the Archelon website.

INFO:

Rescue Center is opened on the weekend from 11.00 am to 5.00 pm and closed for the public in August of each year.

Address: 3rd Marina, Glyfada (behind TRAM stop "Paleo Demarhio").

Organised groups Tel./fax: +30 210 52 31 342 email: info@archelon.gr

Archelon Website : www.archelon.gr

Images Credit: to ARCHELON