Archelon - 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.

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 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.

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.

Source and for more information at www.archelon.gr