Cyprus is synonymous with the adorable turtles that call the island their home, regularly breeding on the sandy shores.
Adorable and cute they may be, the issue surrounding their conservation, however, is quite the opposite. Exploitation of the beautiful creatures in the Mediterranean has seen a serious decline in their population to the point that Green Turtles and Loggerhead Turtles are on the verge of extinction. Turtles lay every 2-5 years, which is even more reason to make immediate changes.
Major steps have been taken in Cyprus in the protection of these creatures. Areas such as the Lara Reserve are now protected under the Fisheries Law. No vehicles are permitted, littering is forbidden and fishing is restricted to allow the turtles to reclaim their home.
Most Mediterranean countries now have legalised policies to protect turtles, alongside dolphins and seals. Groups and movements have been founded to stop people from burying their heads in the sand and instead raise awareness. The Cyprus Turtle Conservation Project, for example, aims to protect and manage turtle nesting beaches, human activity and to monitor turtle’s population. We at Thanos are huge supporters of turtle conservation and will help anyway we can, monitoring and protecting hatchlings. British baker and Thanos friend, Paul Hollywood, is also an advocate for turtle conservation and can be seen nurturing the beloved reptile.
