Sea Turtle Rescue Centre
View over a turtle tank towards viewing deck.
The Sea Turtle Rescue Centre (STRC) was started in 1994 with the triple purpose of:
The STRC is open daily to visitors. It has a viewing deck to observe some of the turtles under rehabilitation, an exhibition room with photographic displays and an audiovisual room where visitors can watch videos and be given a slideshow on sea turtles.
Off-limits to the public are a surgery, two offices and volunteer living quarters. These are only accessed by members of ARCHELON, invited guests and (of course) the volunteers.
Turtle RehabilitationTop
Rehabilitation work is coordinated by a Veterinary who regularly inspects the turtles and updates treatments and procedures that are carried out by the volunteers at the STRC.
Once a turtle is suitable for release it is returned to the place near where it was found, to raise awareness in the local area, or it is released on a selected beach on the southern Attica coast.
Raising AwarenessTop
The public (both Greek and foreign) are informed on the plight of the sea turtles through discussion with the STRC volunteers and the materials presented in the exhibition and audivisual rooms.
Furthermore, during term time, the STRC hosts parties of school children from primary to secondary school age. These children are given special presentations aimed at developing a sense of environmental awareness and sensitivity in their young minds using protection of sea turtles as the focus.
National Sea Turtle Stranding NetworkTop
The STSN operates in conjunction with the Greek Coast Guard so that any turtle found dead or injured around Greece is recorded and appropriately dealt with (suitable disposal of the dead ones and transport to the STRC for the injured ones).
One member of staff is dedicated to the needs of the STSN. They recieve notification from the Coast Guard of the injured turtles and help to coordinate the transport and collection of injured turtles. Likewise all data sent to the STRC concerning stranded dead turtles is processed by this person, currently with an aim to identify "hotspots" of turtle injury and mortality.
With the identification of "hotspots" ARCHELON intends to focus its activities raising awareness amongst local communities and stakeholders to reduce the number of adverse human-turtle interactions in these areas.
