1 Before you ever see a full size Caretta caretta sea turtle, you might stumble upon tracks like these from a nightly visit.
1 Before you ever see a full size Caretta caretta sea turtle, you might stumble upon tracks like these from a nightly visit.
2 Sea turtles (here a rare Green- or Mydas-turtle) cannot survive under water without surfacing from time to time to breathe. This exposes them to potentially lethal threats from motorboats or humans. They have no other enemies, even sharks avoid fighting adult turtles. Their lifespan expectancy can go up to 67 years.
2 Sea turtles (here a rare Green- or Mydas-turtle) cannot survive under water without surfacing from time to time to breathe. This exposes them to potentially lethal threats from motorboats or humans. They have no other enemies, even sharks avoid fighting adult turtles. Their lifespan expectancy can go up to 67 years.
2 Sea turtles (here a rare Green- or Mydas-turtle) cannot survive under water without surfacing from time to time to breathe. This exposes them to potentially lethal threats from motorboats or humans. They have no other enemies, even sharks avoid fighting adult turtles. Their lifespan expectancy can go up to 67 years.
3 Male Loggerhead turtles never leave the water, but females have to go on land to dig nests and lay their eggs. Here is a female turtle on her way back to the sea. Vsible on the left are the tracks where she started her search for a perfect nesting place an hour earlier. This picture was taken at 1 o'clock at night.
4 Covered with sand and exhausted from the hard labour of moving her heavy body (up to several hundred kilograms) on the sand, digging and laying eggs, the female turtle heads back to the sea. Hopefully, she managed to leave a nest. If she felt disturbed by something (noise, bystanders, dogs, moving lights), she will return to the beach later or on another night and start all over.
4 Covered with sand and exhausted from the hard labour of moving her heavy body (up to several hundred kilograms) on the sand, digging and laying eggs, the female turtle heads back to the sea. Hopefully, she managed to leave a nest. If she felt disturbed by something (noise, bystanders, dogs, moving lights), she will return to the beach later or on another night and start all over.
4 Covered with sand and exhausted from the hard labour of moving her heavy body (up to several hundred kilograms) on the sand, digging and laying eggs, the female turtle heads back to the sea. Hopefully, she managed to leave a nest. If she felt disturbed by something (noise, bystanders, dogs, moving lights), she will return to the beach later or on another night and start all over.
5 All nesting season long (May through September), the volunteers of Toulipa Goulimi walk the beaches of Lakonia early in the morning to check for fresh turtle tracks. They try to find the nests before the foxes or shakals find them and eat all the eggs.
5 All nesting season long (May through September), the volunteers of Toulipa Goulimi walk the beaches of Lakonia early in the morning to check for fresh turtle tracks. They try to find the nests before the foxes or shakals find them and eat all the eggs.
6 A nest! Right on the beach in Neapolis. Opening the nests is strictly prohibited by law. Only licenced turtle experts such as Maria (center, front) and Iannis (behind her) from the organization Toulipa Goulimi are allowed to check for eggs. If found, their distance from the sea is measured and the nest is registered, covered and secured with a metal grid and bamboo sticks.
6 A nest! Right on the beach in Neapolis. Opening the nests is strictly prohibited by law. Only licenced turtle experts such as Maria (center, front) and Iannis (behind her) from the organization Toulipa Goulimi are allowed to check for eggs. If found, their distance from the sea is measured and the nest is registered, covered and secured with a metal grid and bamboo sticks.
7 Turtle nests should be in dry sand, safe from too much moisture. But the turtles don't always have a choice. After all, they come back to the same beach to lay their eggs where they hatched 17 to 33 years ago. They are lucky if the beach is still there! On this photo a nest is being moved to a safer place.
7 Turtle nests should be in dry sand, safe from too much moisture. But the turtles don't always have a choice. After all, they come back to the same beach to lay their eggs where they hatched 17 to 33 years ago. They are lucky if the beach is still there! On this photo a nest is being moved to a safer place.
8 This is a safe place for a nest. It has been registered and secured. A sign gives instructions and the iron grid prevents the nest from being opened by animals.
8 This is a safe place for a nest. It has been registered and secured. A sign gives instructions and the iron grid prevents the nest from being opened by animals.
8 This is a safe place for a nest. It has been registered and secured. A sign gives instructions and the iron grid prevents the nest from being opened by animals.
9 This turtle was supposedly hit by a fisherman. Some fishermen try to kill turtles because they believe they eat the fish. However, sea turtles mostly live off jellyfish, sea urchins and crabs..
9 This turtle was supposedly hit by a fisherman. Some fishermen try to kill turtles because they believe they eat the fish. However, sea turtles mostly live off jellyfish, sea urchins and crabs..
9 This turtle was supposedly hit by a fisherman. Some fishermen try to kill turtles because they believe they eat the fish. However, sea turtles mostly live off jellyfish, sea urchins and crabs..
10 Injured turtles are brought to the Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Athens. This turtle was so big that it had to be transported to the Rescue Centre in a minibus. Good news: it survived!
10 Injured turtles are brought to the Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Athens. This turtle was so big that it had to be transported to the Rescue Centre in a minibus. Good news: it survived!
10 Injured turtles are brought to the Archelon Sea Turtle Rescue Centre in Glyfada, Athens. This turtle was so big that it had to be transported to the Rescue Centre in a minibus. Good news: it survived!
11 Every nest is identified with a unique number indicating place and date. This nest is number two of the season at Magano Beach (MAG) north of Neapoli.
11 Every nest is identified with a unique number indicating place and date. This nest is number two of the season at Magano Beach (MAG) north of Neapoli.
11 Every nest is identified with a unique number indicating place and date. This nest is number two of the season at Magano Beach (MAG) north of Neapoli.
12 One can see the few single tracks from tiny flaps. The fabric serves as shelter from the sun but its main role is to guide the hatchlings towards the sea.
12 One can see the few single tracks from tiny flaps. The fabric serves as shelter from the sun but its main role is to guide the hatchlings towards the sea.
12 One can see the few single tracks from tiny flaps. The fabric serves as shelter from the sun but its main role is to guide the hatchlings towards the sea.
13 Another hatchling surfacing in broad daylight. Notice the spike underneath the nose. They use it to crack the egg.
13 Another hatchling surfacing in broad daylight. Notice the spike underneath the nose. They use it to crack the egg.
13 Another hatchling surfacing in broad daylight. Notice the spike underneath the nose. They use it to crack the egg.
14 Direct sun killes the hatchlings through their soft shell. Other enemies such as dogs, seagulls and fish are lurking. Will this small turtle survive and come back one day to lay a nest?
14 Direct sun killes the hatchlings through their soft shell. Other enemies such as dogs, seagulls and fish are lurking. Will this small turtle survive and come back one day to lay a nest?
14 Direct sun killes the hatchlings through their soft shell. Other enemies such as dogs, seagulls and fish are lurking. Will this small turtle survive and come back one day to lay a nest?
15 While waiting for the turtles to hatch, Maria (in the back, standing) teaches local children about sea turtles by building a real-size sand turtle.
15 While waiting for the turtles to hatch, Maria (in the back, standing) teaches local children about sea turtles by building a real-size sand turtle.
15 While waiting for the turtles to hatch, Maria (in the back, standing) teaches local children about sea turtles by building a real-size sand turtle.
16 Here they come! To keep the hatchlings from heading towards the bright lights of the cafés and the pier, lamps are used to guide them.
16 Here they come! To keep the hatchlings from heading towards the bright lights of the cafés and the pier, lamps are used to guide them.
16 Here they come! To keep the hatchlings from heading towards the bright lights of the cafés and the pier, lamps are used to guide them.
17 The day after: Maria opens the nest to do an egg count. Up to 120 eggs can be in one nest. In warm sand, all hatchlings will be female, in cold sand, male.
17 The day after: Maria opens the nest to do an egg count. Up to 120 eggs can be in one nest. In warm sand, all hatchlings will be female, in cold sand, male.
17 The day after: Maria opens the nest to do an egg count. Up to 120 eggs can be in one nest. In warm sand, all hatchlings will be female, in cold sand, male.
18 The last hatchling heading into the sea. If it is female, it will come back to the same beach in 15-30 years to lay a nest. Where the turtles spend the years before returning to their beach of birth is still an unsolved riddle.
18 The last hatchling heading into the sea. If it is female, it will come back to the same beach in 15-30 years to lay a nest. Where the turtles spend the years before returning to their beach of birth is still an unsolved riddle.
18 The last hatchling heading into the sea. If it is female, it will come back to the same beach in 15-30 years to lay a nest. Where the turtles spend the years before returning to their beach of birth is still an unsolved riddle.
19 A short rest in the sunset after a busy day. But more nests are waiting and the night will bring even more turtles to the beaches of Lakonia. Hopefully.
19 A short rest in the sunset after a busy day. But more nests are waiting and the night will bring even more turtles to the beaches of Lakonia. Hopefully.
19 A short rest in the sunset after a busy day. But more nests are waiting and the night will bring even more turtles to the beaches of Lakonia. Hopefully.
