I have to admit that I have been quite busy over the last 2 years and that  tons of things have happened to me and around me. Let’s take one thing at a time and expand gradually from my office.

If I look outside my window, I can see many things have changed. First and not least, the new intensive care is actaully finished. Not only a concrete base covered with 20 new tanks but a brand new intensive care unit enclosed in a green house guarantying better temperatures all year round and much better working conditions all together.

If we continue our tour and enter this green house, we discover that we have been really busy this season. All 20 tanks are full as well as the 6 bigger ones. We even had to reopen the former intensive care wagon to accommodate all our patients. Thankfully we also have up to 6 volunteers to look after all those turtles.

But we have also been releasing lots of turtles both from shore and beach. 37 just for 2009 and already over 10 this year.

Let’s go back in February, where some miracle happened : Omiros, after more than 2 years of rehabilitation and many months of negotiations finally left for England  to his new home in the Blue Reef aquarium in Newquay (UK). Many thanks to all who helped make this possible.

Other event that marked past 2 years : first true collaboration between sea turtle rescue centers on the Mediterranean level. Many have dreamt about it and it happened.

After the 1st workshop on veterinary medicine which took place in Tunisia during the 4th Mediterranean Conference. Presentations were made by different rehabilitation centers. The need for collaboration became more than obvious. This time a date was set for the next meeting.

A 2nd one was organized in Italy in 2009 by the Rescue Center of Lampeduza. It was decided to combine both presentations as well as a practical approach (hook removal operations, hematology). People from 5 different countries took part.

Further steps were taken at the International Sea Turtle Symposium organized in Goa in 2010. Half a day was dedicated to rehabilitation. About 50 people from different countries followed this meeting. The need for sharing protocols and techniques was enhance with the creation of new rehabilitation centers. The mailing list about rehabilitation on sea turtle was reactivated.

Over the following months, discussions took place between the Rescue Center of Lampeduza and the ARCHELON Rehabilitation Center to organize a practical training course on hook and fishing line removal.

In the meanwhile I decided to stop smoking on the 15th of March 2010. Of course, you know me, i also started a diet and got myself a bike to go to work (8km).

In June, Veterinarian Antonio Di Bello and biologist Daniela Freggi from the Lampeduza Rescue Center were invited to Greece to teach their innovative approach on hook and line removal. Were also present: Lito Kritseli (ARCHELON veterinarian), Pavlos Tsaros (ARCHELON Rescue Network coordinator), Manuela Sofoulis (veterinarian) and Anja Dulleck (veterinarian). Volunteers from the ARCHELON Sea Turtle Rehabiliation Center were there to assist and document the operations.

5 surgical operations were conducted over the weekend covering every case. Some turtles had one hook (from small to big), some had more than one, and some had just the fishing line.
Hooks were removed from the esophagus, stomach or the intestines showing the wide range of approaches to hook removal. New anesthesia protocol was elaborated and general medical therapies were discussed.

All 5 turtles were successfully operated and were returned to their tanks the same day. They should be released in the next few weeks.

A workshop will also be taking place in October to expand this collaboration to other organizations.

More to come in the upcoming month. Change can be good for All. Knowing all this boosted my optimism.

As every year, Alan comes to Greece for some unusual activities, to say the least. He travels to Amvrakikos, a close bay located to the north west of Greece. There, for several days, joined a bunch of us, he virtually jumps on turtles. We pull them on the boat to measure and tags. This is part of his research program.

Something else changed soon after that. I went to get a general medical check up like every year. Only this time I was told that my level of cholesterol was over the limit as well as my lipids. A doppler revealed also that some of my arteries were blocked. After making me run on the treadmill for a few minutes, my heart showed signs of stress and I started feeling some chest pain.

They sent me to the hospital to get some further exams and decide what to do. After an extensive check of my arteries, they told me that I needed surgery, a triple bypass to be accurate.

After the shock, I made appointments at different clinics to find the best place. I was given a date (29th September) for the operation. I met with my boos to talk and take some decisions about the rescue center. I would be about 8 days in hospital and have a long leave of absence after that.

I informed my mom and sister who both came to join me. Anja came along to look after me and support me.

I entered the hospital on the 28th of september and came back out on the 7th of October. I have been staying with friends (Athina and Costa) until yesterday where I moved back home. Marianna is there looking after me and cooking for me (hmmm) until i can manage on my own.

Tomorrow is a big step in my recovery since I am allowed outside and need to start exercising again.

It’s dinner time, so I will stop for now.

Catch with you guys l8ter.

Ciao

PaV AKA Pipap

(More tomorrow as it’s dinner time)