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The Loggerhead turtle is the only turtle known to nest in
Greece. It can be distinguished from other turtles by its large head and
reddish-brown shell. It can reach a length of one metre and weigh over 100
kilos. In Greece, Loggerheads lay during the night up to four nests per
season with over 100 eggs in each. They lay their eggs in a chamber that
they dig in the sand about 10 - 30 metres from the water's edge. The turtles
on Kefalonia include about 80 females which lay an average of 4 nests each
season on Mounda, their main nesting beach. The nesting season lasts from
June to the beginning of August. The eggs will hatch about two months after
the time they were laid. Turtles have been found on all the southern sandy
beaches. If you want to sea an adult turtle, they mate near the Drapano
bridge in Argostoli and along the harbour where the fishermen sell their
fish from their caique at around 11.00 a.m. there is often a large turtle
waiting for fishy tit-bits.
Be Turtle Friendly
Please do not go down to the beach at night in search of turtles as this
could scare them away and stop the females coming out of the water to lay
their eggs. Sandcastles and torches will disorientate these animals. Please
flatten any sand castles and fill in any pits before leaving the beach so
hatchlings have an easy path to the sea. It is best not to use any
beach-umbrellas to be sure not disturb the nests.
TT stands for: "Treasure the Turtles"
Be turtle-friendly and follow the turtle code:
Beach Umbrellas - please place them below the high tide line. By putting
your beach umbrella in the wetter sand, you will ensure you will not pierce
a turtle's nest. Loggerhead turtles only nest in the dry sand between the
high tide line and the top part of the sand dunes. This stops the nests
becoming flooded and drowning the eggs. It also allows the eggs to breathe
during gestation. On Mounda beach the nests are not clearly visible and this
is to stop human interference with the nests. If the stake hits a nest and
pierces just one egg, the bacteria will destroy the whole nest.
Sandcastles Kill! - Before leaving the beach, flatten your sandcastles and
leave the beach smooth . Sandcastles and litter are significant hazards for
both the female nesting turtle and the emerging hatchlings. Hatchlings
emerge from the nest in the cool of the night and use the light of the moon
and stars reflected on the Mediterranean to find their way to the water. In
their rush they don't recognise obstacles such as litter, sandcastles or
trenches which may trap or disorientate the young hatchling and they will be
prevented from reaching the sea.
Litter - place your litter in a bin or take it with you. When the female
loggerheads crawl up the beach to lay their eggs they become very exposed
and are therefore very wary of interference. Crawling into an obstruction
such as litter or a sandcastle will disturb a female from her nesting. She
will return to the water without laying and if she doesn't have sufficient
time to make another journey to the beach on the following night she will
dump her eggs in the sea and the potential hatchlings will be lost.
Leave the turtles alone - if you do see a hatchling in the day, please do
not help it into the water.
Give the turtles a chance! Don't camp or drive on the beach. Lights and
noise from camping activity scares away turtles and disorientates the young
hatchlings. Driving vehicles on the beach compresses the loose sand on top
of the nests which suffocates the nest and makes it difficult for any live
hatchlings to crawl out.
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Thanks to
http://www.kateliosgroup.org for the photos.
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