Adventure for a swimmer in Chania, as a swim in the sea had an unpleasant ending when he was bitten by a sea turtle.
Chania: Sea turtle bites swimmer at Marathi beach
The incident occurred on Wednesday (16/7) at Marathi beach in Chania, according to what the victim reported to zarpanews.gr. He had just entered the sea to swim and was approximately 30 meters from the shore when he was bitten by a sea turtle that was in the water.
The man, who is a visitor to Chania, was surprised by the bite, exited the sea and immediately notified the lifeguard. As he was informed, similar incidents have occurred at this specific beach this year as well, and the relevant authorities are aware of the situation.
The victim appears concerned and wonders why, given that the authorities know of the turtle’s presence, there is no warning so that swimmers can be careful while in the water. Subsequently, the man went to a pharmacy where he was given antibiotic treatment and a tetanus shot.
What to do if you encounter a sea turtle
Useful advice regarding how citizens should handle sea turtles if they come into contact with them is provided by the Sea Turtle Protection Society, ARCHELON.
The association’s announcement states in detail:
Although many would find it wonderful to have the opportunity to swim alongside a sea turtle, in reality the interaction may not always be pleasant. Now that swimmers at Greek beaches are at their peak, we should remember that sea turtles are not like domestic animals that we are all familiar with. They live freely in the sea, usually travel long distances, and rarely encounter humans.
“However, in areas where a sea turtle associates human presence with food, its behavior changes. It treats swimmers as well as other turtles as competitors in its feeding area and tries to chase them away with bites,” says Dimitris Fytilis, Head of ARCHELON’s Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Glyfada, Attica.
Be careful: A turtle may chase you in the sea to remove you from its vital space. Also, if it has been fed at that spot by humans, it may approach you and bite you. This also happens in Limeni, Mani, where the local Health Center records dozens of sea turtle attacks on swimmers every summer.
According to information, remains of marine organisms are systematically thrown into the sea from facilities for consumption by sea turtles living there. However, dumping dead organisms and food waste into the sea constitutes pollution and is criminally prosecuted and constitutes disturbance to protected species. Knowledge about marine organisms and awareness can help avoid these problems and develop greater respect for nature and the planet’s ecosystems.
Instructions for swimmers:
Do not approach sea turtles – Keep your distance
Avoid contact with sea turtles – Risk of injury
Feeding a protected species with foods that are not part of its natural diet constitutes disturbance and is prohibited by law. Do not feed sea turtles
If you see people from specific facilities feeding sea turtles or throwing food waste into the sea, you can report it to the local Police Department and/or the Port Authority of the area. If you encounter an injured sea turtle, you can call ARCHELON’s 24-hour Rescue Network phone (+30) 6941511511 for immediate transport to the Rescue Center. Approximately 70 injured or sick sea turtles arrive at ARCHELON’s Rescue Center each year, rescued from Greek seas. At the facilities, the turtles receive care and rehabilitation, and their return to the sea is organized from there.
INFORMATION / CONTACT ARCHELON: Dimitris Fytilis, Head of Sea Turtle Rescue Center tel. 210 8982600 email: rc.officer@archelon.gr
SEA TURTLE RESCUE: 24-HOUR PHONE (+30) 69 41 511 511
