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2024-06-04 20:34:19
At the turn of May and June, we always wait for information about the first nests of Caretta caretta turtles established on the beaches of Crete. This time, good news came from Stavros, located on the Akrotiri peninsula, where two nests were spotted on Pachia Ammos beach within a few days.
Photo source: www.kriti24.gr
On Saturday, June 1, at sunset, people bathing noticed a turtle coming ashore. Unfortunately, probably due to the presence of people, the animal returned to the water.
The next day, however, traces of sea turtles and a nest were found on the sand. It was immediately marked and fenced to prevent accidental destruction. In the following days, volunteers will conduct daily morning patrols on the beaches of Stavros in search of more new nests. Caretta caretta usually come onto land at night or early in the morning to lay eggs. Therefore, it is important to notice new nests as soon as possible.
In areas where Caretta caretta nest, special recommendations apply during the breeding season. Caretta caretta are in danger of extinction and are under protection. It is estimated that less than 1 in 1,000 turtles will reach reproductive age. However, when this happens, Caretta caretta females return 2-3 times during the breeding season to the same beach where they were born. That is why it is so important to ensure that these endangered animals have the safest possible conditions for nesting.
To protect these turtles and their breeding areas, the Greek organization Archelon was established in 1983. Its work is based mainly on volunteering, so every year over 500 volunteers from around the world monitor the main breeding areas, conduct research and work on habitat restoration. Archelon's task is also to raise public awareness and rehabilitate sick and injured turtles. All this is done in close cooperation with state and local authorities, as well as residents and the tourist business, which strongly influences the appearance of the coast.
Caretta Caretta breeding areas are located, among others, on the island of Zakhyntos, the Peloponnese and Crete. There are three most important breeding areas in Crete: at Messara Bay near Kalamaki, at Rethymno and Chania. Therefore, it may happen that during your holiday travels you will encounter a Caretta caretta nest marked with a metal barrier.
Unfortunately, the number of turtle nests is decreasing every year in the area of Chania and Rethymno. At national level, Chania is 6% lower per year and Rethymno is 4% lower. Fortunately, the number of nests in Messara Bay does not change. You can also encounter them in other areas of Crete, but they will be rather isolated pieces.
During the period when turtles begin to lay eggs, the coast is patrolled by Archelon volunteers who go early every morning to those beaches where turtles are known to have nested there. Volunteers check whether there are any new traces on the sand under the cover of darkness, indicating the presence of turtles at night. It is thanks to this systematic work that we learn about newly established nests.
A marked turtle nest
Archelon began its operations on the beaches of Crete in 1990, i.e. 7 years after the organization was founded. Each newly discovered nest is described in detail by volunteers and marked in a very visible way, which makes it easier to monitor them. Additionally, tourists and residents are also warned that they should take special precautions when staying near the nests. Unfortunately, human activity poses an additional threat to the development of turtles.
The dynamic development of tourism on the Greek islands, which are the most popular breeding area, causes a systematic decrease in the number of Caretta caretta nests. Umbrellas on the beaches, a large number of sunbeds, artificial lights after dark, noise, driving vehicles on the beaches and garbage left by tourists are causing a slow decline in the turtle population. Turtles associate even ordinary plastic bags floating in the sea with jellyfish, which are their delicacy, but which poses a mortal danger to them. Archelon employees remind us that with the beginning of the turtles' breeding season, safe conditions should be created for them.
In fact, turtles do not have particularly high requirements and during the breeding season it is enough to follow a few simple recommendations from Archelon.
2024-06-04 20:34:19
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