Rescue Network

Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

In 1994, ARCHELON in co-operation with the Municipality of Glyfada and the financial support of the Environmental Ministry set up one of the first Sea Turtle Rescue Centres in the Mediterranean. "Ο.Σ.Ε." the Greek Railway Organisation, donated five wagons which were renovated to cover the needs of the Rescue Centre. The STRC operates under a special permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Wildlife Preservation). The tasks of the STRC are to rehabilitate injured and sick sea turtles and to raise public awareness. The Centre also locates the Volunteers Training Centre, which is an area specially arranged with photographic exhibitions and facilities for organizing seminars, meetings as well as environmental education presentations.

The functions of the Rescue Centre are:

Medical Treatment. Every year almost 50 turtles are brought to the Rescue Centre form all over Greece. The most common injuries for which turtles are being treated at the STRC are: amputations due to fishing gear entanglement, ingestion of hooks and other materials such as plastic bags, deliberate head injuries by fishermen, collision with speedboats etc.

Stranding Network. Every year in Greece almost 300 stranded turtles are recorded. When a dead sea turtle is found, the port police of each area is responsible to contact the Municipality, which will bury it immediately and if an injured sea turtle is found, the port police arranges its transportation to the Rescue Centre.

Public awareness. Every year almost 20000 people (schools, organised groups, and individual visitors) visit the exhibition area of the Rescue Centre. Environmental activities are conducted in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Education.

The Volunteers Training Centre, which was made in co-operation with the General Youth Secretariat, is an area special organized for presentations and accommodates a photographic exhibition about the history, biodiversity and biology of sea turtle.

The function and maintenance of the Rescue Centre is based on volunteers. Every year almost 50 volunteers work on sea turtle treatment, maintenance and public awareness.

The Rescue Centre coordinates the European Community Programme LIFE Nature with the main objective of reducing turtle mortality related to fishing activities.

How you can help

• You can help by reporting any sick or dead turtle to the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre.

• By making a donation, or adopting an injured sea turtle.

• Become a volunteer at the Sea Turtle Rescue Centre

• The daily requirements of the STRC both in medication and food for the turtles under treatment have increased in contrast with project's limited funds. If you wish to contribute to the STRC' s effort to help the sea turtles under treatment you can provide the following:
  

You can visit the Rescue Centre on weekends from 11.00am to 5.00pm.
The Rescue Center is closed for the public in August of each year.

The Rescue Centre is at the 3rd Marina, Glyfada (behind TRAM stop "Paleo Demarhio").
For more information and booking appointment for organised groups please call at Tel./fax: +30 210 52 31 342 email: stps@archelon.gr,
ARCHELON, The Sea Turtle Protection Socitey of Greece,
Solomou 57, GR-104 32,
Athens, Greece.

A permanent information centre operates at the Rescue Centre. Additionally, ARCHELON in co-operation with General Youth Secretariat created the Volunteers Training Centre and is operating since May 2005. Visitors may also view turtles that are at the last stage of their rehabilitation. Every year almost 15,000 people (schools, organised groups, and individual visitors) visit the exhibition area of the Rescue Centre. Environmental activities are conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.