Abstract
ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Centre (STRC) was established in 1994 in Glyfada, Attica, with the main objectives to rehabilitate injured turtles, assist in determining their threats at sea, and contribute to public awareness. Here, we present the main results of the STRC’s 30-year (1995-2024) operation, evaluating its rehabilitation effectiveness and drawing conclusions on the main threats that turtles encounter in the Greek seas. During this period, 1,539 turtle admissions were registered, with annual numbers showing a significant positive trend. Clinical examination identified the cause of injury for 87% of admissions, with 87.3% of them assigned to fisheries interaction (n=1,170), including those bearing injuries inflicted intentionally following incidental capture (n=595). In total, more than 71% of turtles rehabilitated for more than five days were released to the wild (n=842). Released turtles generally exhibited positive post-release behaviour as indicated by subsequent observations (live sightings or nesting activity) and by satellite telemetry, although more research is needed to confirm this, especially in the case of head traumas. Notwithstanding the relatively small number of released turtles, contributing modestly to sea turtle conservation in terms of increasing population viability and abundance, the role of the STRC is paramount in covering the social need for wildlife welfare, as well as being an important vehicle of public awareness and education.