TURTLE in SOUGIA

Sougia Taxi & Minivan Services

Last night, through photos posted by a friend on Facebook, a turtle was found, which trusted the hospitable east side of Sougia beach, apparently to lay her eggs. This area was immidiately restricted and temporarily marked to protect the eggs.

Greece hosts the largest number of sea turtle nests in the entire Mediterranean, especially the most important species, the Caretta Caretta and one of the most important areas for their survival is our island, Crete. The beaches of Messara, Rethymnon and Chania are part of areas of the Human Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Greece with corresponding codes GR4310004, GR4330004 and GR4340003 as they host the spawning of sea turtles. In Greece the species of sea turtle Caretta (Caretta Caretta) is strictly protected by Greek law and there are 2 organizations that are active for the sea turtle doing an excellent and commendable work.

Sea Turtle Caretta

The size of a Caretta sea turtle can reach up to 100 cm, or rarely up to 120 cm. It usually weighs 100-150 kg but in exceptional cases can exceed 450 kg. It can live from 45 – 65 years. For food it has mainly jellyfish, mollusks, crustaceans and rarely algae. Sea turtles can easily die by swallowing plastic bags thrown into the sea as they think they are jellyfish. So it would be good to avoid throwing garbage in the seas and beaches or if we still find some to collect them carefully using personal protective equipment and throw them in the trash.

Spawning process of sea turtles

The female Caretta sea turtle approaches the coast of Crete every 2-4 years, from May to September only to give birth. If it finds a sandy beach without lights, it goes out in the dark and lays 20-200 eggs while burying them in the sand. After about 2 months that the turtles will hatch, they head to the sea and stay there for many years until the adult female turtles return to the same beach and in turn lay their eggs.

Archelon

ARCHELON is a Greek organization whose work begins in 1990 with the assistance of volunteers from Greece and around the world with programs for registration, information and protection of sea turtles. The work of ARCHELON does not stop at these activities only as the data it collects are used as indicators for the evolution of the sea situation and the turtle population in Greece and the Mediterranean.

The fact of degradation and destruction of the beaches where the turtles were born, is a big obstacle in the completion of the life cycle of the turtles as it makes them incapable of reproduction (since they give birth only on the same beach).

For this reason in the areas where the turtle is found:

The use of lighting and speakers is prohibited
Driving is prohibited
We avoid night wanderings
If we find a nest we inform ARCHELON
Mark the area temporarily so that no one approaches and the eggs break. ARCHELON will then place metal cages above the nest.
We participate as volunteers in ARCHELON to support its work

A new life cycle of Mediterranean sea turtles begins with the nests that are probably starting to make on the beach of Sougia. In order to protect this special visitor, we must all together, permanent residents, businessmen and visitors of Sougia, contribute to this purpose, each in his own way.

If you want to know more about Sougia, Accommodation in Sougia, nightlife, restaurants and cafes in the area please read the relevant articles.

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