sputnik
03-20-2005, 11:12 AM
Greece Urged to Protect Sea Turtles
AFP
March 11, 2005 — An international petition gathering 17,000 signatures has been presented to Greece's premier urging the protection of endangered loggerhead sea turtles, environmentalists said Friday.
The signatories denounced the government's failure to protect the Caretta caretta sea turtles in the petition handed to Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, according to the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles.
The environmentalists said they were worried by the situation at Lagana Beach and on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, where many turtles choose to lay their eggs. Sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to nest.
The national park on the beach was closed in April 2004, and the petition warned against another disastrous season if nothing was done before nesting starts in May.
Greece, condemned by the European Court of Justice in 2002 for failing to protect the species, has until March 15 to answer a warning by European Commission over their protection or risks a large fine, the head of the Greece chapter of Medasset, Lili Venizelou, told AFP.
Lagana Beach has witnessed intensive illegal tourism development that threatens the baby turtles. Over the years, local environmentalist activists have been beaten, as well as being targeted in bomb and arson attacks.
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Name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Primary Classification: Chelonia (Tortoises and Turtles)
Location: Worldwide oceans.
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical and temperate waters.
Diet: Mainly bottom-dwelling sea creatures, such as mollusks, crabs, urchins and sponges. Also free-swimming prey like jellyfish.
Size: Up to 39 inches in length and 350 lbs in weight.
Description: Carapace, or shell, is a rusty reddish-brown color; underside is yellow; large head; strong, muscular jaws; huge flippers.
Cool Facts: It is highly migratory and journeys greater distances than any other sea turtle. Named for its enormous head, it has huge, powerful jaws that can crush seemingly impossible-to-break shellfish such as the queen conch.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Habitat loss and accidental capture in fishing nets and long-lines.
What Can I Do?: Visit the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and the WWF's Loggerhead Turtle page for information on how you can help.
http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20050307/seaturtles.html
AFP
March 11, 2005 — An international petition gathering 17,000 signatures has been presented to Greece's premier urging the protection of endangered loggerhead sea turtles, environmentalists said Friday.
The signatories denounced the government's failure to protect the Caretta caretta sea turtles in the petition handed to Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, according to the Mediterranean Association to Save the Sea Turtles.
The environmentalists said they were worried by the situation at Lagana Beach and on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, where many turtles choose to lay their eggs. Sea turtles return to the beach where they were born to nest.
The national park on the beach was closed in April 2004, and the petition warned against another disastrous season if nothing was done before nesting starts in May.
Greece, condemned by the European Court of Justice in 2002 for failing to protect the species, has until March 15 to answer a warning by European Commission over their protection or risks a large fine, the head of the Greece chapter of Medasset, Lili Venizelou, told AFP.
Lagana Beach has witnessed intensive illegal tourism development that threatens the baby turtles. Over the years, local environmentalist activists have been beaten, as well as being targeted in bomb and arson attacks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name: Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Primary Classification: Chelonia (Tortoises and Turtles)
Location: Worldwide oceans.
Habitat: Tropical, subtropical and temperate waters.
Diet: Mainly bottom-dwelling sea creatures, such as mollusks, crabs, urchins and sponges. Also free-swimming prey like jellyfish.
Size: Up to 39 inches in length and 350 lbs in weight.
Description: Carapace, or shell, is a rusty reddish-brown color; underside is yellow; large head; strong, muscular jaws; huge flippers.
Cool Facts: It is highly migratory and journeys greater distances than any other sea turtle. Named for its enormous head, it has huge, powerful jaws that can crush seemingly impossible-to-break shellfish such as the queen conch.
Conservation Status: Endangered
Major Threats: Habitat loss and accidental capture in fishing nets and long-lines.
What Can I Do?: Visit the Sea Turtle Restoration Project and the WWF's Loggerhead Turtle page for information on how you can help.
http://animal.discovery.com/news/afp/20050307/seaturtles.html