SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF SEA TURTLES

Release of ‘Eleftheria’ (Freedom), the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) in Rethymno Crete.

On Wednesday 25^th June, the Caretta caretta sea turtle returns to Crete to be released after months of therapy

‘Eleftheria’ is an adult female turtle weighing 35kg and has a carapace length of 70 cm, who was found injured near nesting beaches in Peloponnese, on Achaia Beach in August 2013. On 5^th August last summer she was taken to Archelon’s Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada, Attica. ‘Eleftheria’ arrived at the center with head injuries, and injuries to her neck and to the back of her carapace. After ten months of treatment, which included medication and veterinary care, she has now fully recovered and so it is time for her to return to her natural environment.

The release event will be held in Rethymno in cooperation with the Municipality of Rethymno and will be open to the public. We hope that this will be an important environmental education lesson for people of all ages, especially now that the sea turtle nesting season has already begun along the entire coast of Crete and in other areas of Greece.

In addition, a very important goal of this event is to collect donations to fund the repair of 2 damaged tanks at Archelon’s Sea Turtle Rescue Center. These tanks are used in the final stage of treatment of sea turtles in order to prepare them for release. Aquila Hotels & Resorts who, as a main sponsor of the event, have generously supported this effort. We are hopeful that other hotels in Rethymno will follow the leading example of Aquila.

Evelin Divers, who continue to provide ongoing support throughout the Archelon season, are also offering logistical support transporting the turtle and are generously donating 50% of all dive bookings taken during this event.

Therefore, we invite everyone, to the release of ‘Eleftheria’ on Wednesday 25^th June at 11:30am on the beach in front of Aquila Porto Rethymno Hotel in Rethymno. Rethymno is one of the most important nesting beaches for Caretta caretta for thousands of years.

Information: Reggina Stefanatou, Project Coordinator for Crete