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. ARCHELON volunteers continue to work hard every day in order to locate and protect these sea turtle nests.
Since 1987, the 150 volunteers that participate in ARCHELON's Zakynthos project every year contribute to public awareness of visitors through the seasonal operation of Information Stations in cooperation with the local authorities and, in recent years, the National Marine Park of Zakynthos Management Agency. Every year, around 70,000 visitors are informed at the Information Stations, at live presentations held at hotels, on tour boats, and on the nesting beaches. ARCHELON volunteers also work cooperatively with Park wardens to safeguard the nesting beaches and ensure compliance with the regulations on a 24-hour basis.
It is particularly important to mention that this season has a lower number of nests compared to the previous season. As the Caretta carretta turtles nest every two to three years, these low nest numbers have been anticipated by our Society as the last season ended with particularly high nest numbers.
All volunteers of the ARCHELON are looking forward to the arrival of the first hatchlings and enthusiastically continue to record breeding activity on the beaches as well as to inform the public.
Information: Anna Lamaj, Project Leader of Zakynthos Project Phone: +30 6940454976, email: zakynth@archelon.gr
The first nest of a Caretta caretta in Greece has hatched in Zakynthos
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