A Turtle Tale -
Did you know that whilst basking in the sun on that endless beach of white sand you may very well be lying near a nest of one of the most magnificent yet endangered species of our oceans?
The beloved Turtle does indeed choose the beach of Skala Eressos as one of their nesting grounds. What an honour!
Out of the seven species in the world, only three are regularly found in our Grecian Seas- Loggerhead, Leatherback and Green Turtles. Of these three, only the Loggerhead Sea Turtle is known to nest in Greece. They all live primarily in the marine environment to mate, feed, migrate and hibernate. Females return to land to dig nests and lay eggs, and males almost never return to land.
Turtles return to the exact spot where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs, and often emerge within a few hundred metres of where they last nested.
Nesting happens throughout the summer season with eggs needing roughly 55 days for incubation. Nesting usually happens at night and, depending on the species, they lay a staggering 80 to 120 eggs in a nest. If you come across a turtle nesting it is important she is not disturbed. If she feels threatened or interrupted when nesting, she will abandon the process.
The temperature of the sand determines the gender of the hatchlings.
Once hatched the turtles find their way to the ocean via the downward slope of the beach and the reflections of the moon, stars and open horizon on the water. Once the hatchlings reach the ocean the rest of their juvenile years are a mystery. What we do know is most of the years are taken up with drifting with the currents, hiding, and growing. Some can live up to 50 years or more.
Only 1 in 1000 hatchlings survive to adulthood.
Volunteers are vitally important in protecting the turtles nesting environment to ensure as many of these majestic creatures have a chance in the open sea. As six of the seven species are now classed as endangered or critically endangered, it’s our responsibility to try and change this, together.
What should I do if I see a sea turtle nesting?
Stay behind her at a distance and remain quiet.
Don't use any lights, including flashlights, flash photography, and video equipment.
Don't put your hands on or near the turtle. Any distractions may frighten and disorient her.
Protecting the nest
The best time to look for any traces of a nest is early morning before the beach is disturbed or the wind blows tracks away. It is a one wheel tractor track kind of track (say that after a few beers). If there are no human activities on the beach that pose a threat to the nest then just mark it, no other action is needed. If there are human activities on the beach that pose a threat, such as beach bars, umbrellas and sunbeds, mark it then please contact Black Rock Dive Centre who will get a member of their Lesvos team to offer advice and start proceedings on protective measures.
What should I do if I find sea turtle hatchlings on the beach?
Watch from a distance.
Leave them in their nest and allow them to crawl to the water on their own. It is absolutely necessary for them to reach the sea with their own strength.
Keep all lights off.
If they come out during daylight then you can make a corridor in the sand towards the shoreline and give them shade.
Protect them from predators. Cats, dogs and foxes are all known to dig up the eggs. Hatchlings racing for the sea are also eaten by these animals as well as pine martens, rats, gulls and crows. Once they reach the sea they may well then be devoured by large fish. Talk about unlucky…..
What else threatens Sea Turtle survival?
Shrinking nesting beaches due to tourism development and beach furniture.
Harvesting sea turtles for food, and their shells made into jewellery and souvenirs.
Entanglement in fishing nets is a major contributor to the death toll of juvenile and adult sea turtles.
Thousands of sea turtles die each year from eating and becoming entangled in our rubbish. Especially plastic bags and balloons which they mistake for one of their main food sources, jellyfish.
Nesting sea turtles look for dark, quiet beaches to lay their eggs. Lights from buildings along the beach distract and confuse the females as well as the hatchlings. When the young turtles emerge from the nest at night, they are drawn toward the lights instead of the water. A single light can cause hundreds of misdirected hatchlings to be killed by automobiles on nearby roads and parking lots, dehydrate in the morning sun, and increase their chance of being killed by predators.
Lets face it, the Sea Turtle certainly pulled the short straw...
But maybe we can make it a little less treacherous by giving them a helping hand towards their undersea adventure.
"It's awesome, Jellyman. Little dudes are just eggs, we leave 'em on the beach to hatch, and then — koo-koo ka-choo! — they find their way back to the Big Ol' Blue." – Crush, Finding Nemo
Post by Nikki Franks Falloon
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