And when it comes to volunteers at field projects?
The nesting beaches are in other parts of Greece like the Peloponnese, the
Zakynthos Island (a very popular place for the population of loggerhead sea
turtles) and in the island of Crete. The main task is surveying of the beaches
in order to find and protect the nests. Long hours, again, long hours and
difficult hours as well, because the patrolling of the beach takes place really
early in the morning or late at night. They are trained to find nests, taught
how to protect them. Around two months after each nest has been created
comes the season of hatchlings, which are coming out of the sand and going
to the sea.
You collect a lot of data- does ARCHELON cooperate with similar
organizations from some other parts of the world?
Yes, of course. Regarding the Rescue Center, from what I know, we are trying
to collaborate with other rescue centers to gain knowledge, exchange
experience and knowledge as well, to check our techniques, if there is
something more up-to-date that we can do, or they can do, if we know about
it. We are open to any kind of rescue centers in order to help the injured
turtles. We also collaborate with individual vets, who specialize in sea turtle
rehabilitation, so for example if I have a case that is very unique, I can contact
those people; they are always 24/7 as well. We also have the same things
going on with the beach project. In general, ARCHELON is doing research and
publishing the results. We are always open to any potential collaboration in
order to help the sea turtles; we really care about that.
It is very nice to hear it is working around the world. I think we are
heading to the end, but I have few more questions, not really
concerning your work, but your experience and what you see happening
to the sea. Did you notice any particular changes caused by the climate
change, or is it a more stable situation from your point of view?
It is a tricky subject, the climate change. Sea turtles are definitely a species
affected by climate change, unfortunately I cannot support this with my own
research or data collection, things like that, but from my point of view there is
definitely a climate change going on and turtles can be affected by that.
Regarding the injured turtles we have at the rescue center, it was a bit unique