Caretta-Caretta sea turtles finding their home

Our great island of Zakynthos (Zante) is the main reproduction site for the Caretta –Caretta sea turtles. Sekania in particular is the most important in the whole Mediterrranean. Other sites include Laganas, Kalamaki, Daphni, Marathonissi and Pelouzo.

These amazing turtles, having survived for more than 150 million years, are now struggling mainly due to human intervention. During the summertime, they come ashore and lay approximately 100 eggs in the warm sand, during June, July and August, every about 15 days. This process must take place in a silent, dark environment; this is why their area is off-limits for people after sunset. The eggs will stay in the warm sand for 2 months and only a few of them will make it. Not all eggs hatch and even those that will make it to the sea are in danger as they are eaten by fish.

Sea turtles are an endangered species. This is why every effort has been made to protect their nesting areas and their survival in a whole. The Greek State has made efforts by controlling access to the area and the sea and creating the National Marine Park in the bay of Laganas. Additionally, the WWF bought the beach of Sekania in order to protect the turtles and important information on the protection of these amazing creatures is being handled every year to educate visitors.