Greece’s pure magnificence is astounding, and it extends to its animal kingdom. One of many oldest inhabitants of the seas, the majestic Caretta Caretta sea turtle, calls Greece residence. This magnificent creature, which can be known as the loggerhead sea turtle, adores the Mediterranean, and Greece particularly: over half of its nesting websites are right here. Let’s get to know this noble creature of the Greek seas.
The Caretta Caretta Sea Turtle – a Protected Treasure
The Caretta Caretta is among the many earths’ oldest species – they’re one among seven species of sea turtle which have graced our planet for 100 million years. For some perspective, dinosaurs turned extinct 65 million years in the past.
The loggerhead sea turtle is spectacular – on common, the shell is a few meter lengthy, and weighs about 135 kilos, however there have been specimens recorded who weigh 3 times that quantity. They’re sleek giants. To come across one – as respectful divers and even snorkelers would possibly on a really lucky event – is an unforgettable expertise. However- as we see below- we by no means wish to search them out actively.
Their lifespan continuously reaches over six many years, they usually can attain a century. They’re omnivorous, with sturdy jaws enabling them to feast on many creatures.
The place They Reside
Greece may be very lucky, internet hosting sixty % of the species’ nesting websites within the Mediterranean. There are two necessary breeding websites in Greece: one is Laganas Bay in Zakynthos, with six nesting seashores overseen by the Nationwide Marine Park of Zakynthos. One other is within the western Peloponnese within the southern a part of the Kyparissia gulf. The Caretta Caretta can be keen on the waters off of Kefalonia.
They’re nesting seashores in lots of locations all through Greece nonetheless, along with these main websites the ocean turtles nest sporadically all through the Dodecanese, on Crete (by Rethymno, particularly), and the Sporades, the place there’s additionally a Marine Park defending them off of Alonissos.
Why the Caretta Caretta Wants our Assist
Such a grand species, so sturdy – they will eat every part they usually have only a few pure predators, given their monumental measurement and arduous shell. Sadly, it’s we who endanger them. Widespread human threats embrace plastic air pollution – they will get entangled in plastic waste. Plastic baggage, nets, and different refuse can strangle them or lure them beneath the sea- whereas the ocean is their residence, the Caretta Caretta breathes air, as we do, and should periodically come as much as the floor. They’ll even collide with fishing vessels or different craft.
The opposite main risk that these creatures face may be very tough to fight. Human civilization itself is a big risk to their nesting websites. The ocean turtle nests on seashores. The hatchlings should discover their method into the ocean, guided by the celebs. Noise air pollution and lightweight air pollution particularly confuse them- they see lights and head in the direction of a seaside bar or a city, pondering that these are stars. Fires and seaside erosion additional threaten their nesting websites.
The NGOs and Municipalities Taking Motion
Luckily, the Caretta Caretta has many allies decided to guard this threatened and valuable species. The Ionian Island of Zakynthos, talked about above, is one among their most necessary areas, with a excessive focus of nesting websites and to match {that a} excessive focus of effort. The Caretta Caretta reproduces slowly, with females laying as much as 4 clutches of eggs earlier than going right into a resting stage for 2 to 3 years, making the safety of nesting seashores much more necessary.
Zakynthos and Sekania Seashore
The Nationwide Marine Park of Zakynthos has carried out a lot of protocols for the safety of the nesting seashores clustered on the southeastern shore alongside the Gulf of Lagana. These measures embrace limiting and proscribing vessel speeds and particularly in sure seasons proscribing entry to vessels altogether in sure areas, to keep away from collision.
Sekania seaside is just not solely a protected nesting website. This seaside overseen by the Zakyntos Marine Park and WWF Greece is an energetic “nursery”. Though it’s simply over half a kilometer in size, it hosts some 500 to 1,00 nests every year. The opposite nesting seashores are additionally protected by many measures.
Kyparissia Bay – the Efforts of MEDASSET
On the shore of the western Peloponnese this lovely bay is protected as a part of the Natura 2000 community on account of its dune ecosystem and naturally the nesting websites of the majestic Caretta Caretta. The threats that MEDASSET (Mediterranean Affiliation to save lots of sea turtles) combats embrace unlawful constructing and the ensuing erosion of the dunes and seashores, vehicular entry which destroys the nests, farming of non-indigenous crops, fishing close to the shore, and the rest that might disturb the nests. Even one thing as benign trying as a seaside lounger generally is a risk whether it is on the improper spot. Raking the seashores to flatten the sand for a extra inviting place for people to lounge can be an issue.
What Steps Can We Take to Assist?
Easy awe and consciousness can go an extended strategy to defending the Caretta Caretta. None of us would want to deliberately trigger hurt to those valuable creatures. To this intention, there’s continuously info posted at potential nesting websites. Studying that is all the time necessary and likewise informative. In brief although, we should always not intervene within the pure setting by accumulating wildflowers or sand or the rest that appears inviting – these actions can result in erosion, they usually want all of the sand obtainable for his or her nesting. In some locations maybe we have to chorus from utilizing umbrellas, as putting them deep within the sand can destroy a nest. Possibly we see a hatchling – how thrilling! However we should always not intervene. On the most, we will see that no human interference – equivalent to a gap we now have dug, or objects – equivalent to seaside toys – impede the creature’s path to the ocean.
The turtles usually nest between sundown and the early morning hours- avoiding the seaside then helps them nest undisturbed. One other factor we will do is to not search them out. Typically personal corporations set up boat journeys to see them. It is extremely tempting to think about glimpsing these lovely creatures within the water. However boats can scare them and trigger them stress. It’s best to keep up a respectful distance.
The very best factor to do is for guests to tell themselves – utilizing posted supplies on website, and likewise consulting the websites of organizations equivalent to WWF Greece, the Zante (Zakynthos) Turtle Center, and MEDASSET.
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