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Ionian Fauna
(continued)

 


Loggerhead Sea Turtles 
(Caretta Caretta)

IUCN Status Category endangered

 

Sea turtles existed in the Mediterranean long before mankind they are infact prehistoric animals. Having survived millions of years, their continuing survival is now being threatened by mans uncontrolled exploitation of their natural environment.

 Although they spend almost all their life in the sea, the future existence of these ancient reptiles is entirely dependant on the careful maintenance and preservation of certain beaches, where the female turtles return to deposit their eggs. The beaches of Laganas bay in Zakynthos are the most important nesting areas in the Mediterranean, and have been protected, and monitored since 1983 by the Sea Turtle Protecton Society a Greek NGO.

From June to August the Loggerheads come to mate and deposit their eggs in the warm sands. female turtles come ashore when the beaches are dark and quiet, dig a hole, the egg chamber, in the sand with their hind flippers, and lay around 120 eggs. After laying, they cover the nests with great care and crawl back to the sea. 

The eggs are incubated for approximately 55 days, before the turtles come up to the surface and head for the sea. This usually happens during the night or very early in the morning. As soon as they reach the water they swim to the open sea. Having a soft shell and length of only 6 centimetres, the baby turtles are very vulnerable, often falling prey to sea birds and fish.

Under normal conditions these losses are compensated for by the large number of eggs laid by the females. Nesting areas are affected more and more by human activities, which has resulted in loss of habitat for the turtles. The southerly beaches of Zakynthos and their surrounding natural habitats are now part of a newly designated National Marine Park, in support of EU Directive 92/43/EEC (conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora) It is very important that the park is embraced by the local communities if it is to succeed. The challenge to the newly elected management body

 

Reptiles

Montpellier snake (Malpolon monspessulanus)


This is a common snake in the Ionian, can be grey, green, or black in colour, inhabits dry rocky scrubby places, its venom is not dangerous to man. Snakes are in general dying out in Greece due to persecution and loss of habitat in tourist areas.

 

Moorish ghecko (Tarantola mauritanica)
This greyish brown member of the lizard family is often to be spotted on walls or buildings in the Ionian, particularly close to lights. Lives mainly close to the coast, and is a useful companion to have around your villa, as it loves mosquitoes.

 

 

Help us safeguard the future of the Ionian natural habitats and ensure the survival of some of the worlds most endangered wildlife species.

 

         
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