Greek Islands: Zakynthos
In 2000 the Zakynthos National Marine Park (ZNMP) was created to save the endangered Mediterranean Sea Turtle known as caretta-caretta. The turtles have been laying their eggs in Laganas Bay since antiquity and the beaches of Zakynthos (or Zante as it is also called) are their last stronghold. Despite good intentions the ZNMP recieved little funding from the ministry of the environment, public works and urban planning and battled with greedy locals who saw the protection of the turtles as an obstacle to developing the beaches for tourism. The beaches which were supposed to be protected are now unguarded and filled with illegal construction, walls and beach-chairs, as speedboats race across the bay injuring turtles.
Obviously to the people of Zakynthos bringing in the tourist euros is more important to them than the plight of the turtles, understandable since we all have to make a living. However this is short-sighted because those sea turtles are the only thing that makes Zakynthos an extraordinary island. It would be like Santorini trying to get rid of the volcano or Athens getting rid of the Parthenon.
So does that mean you should skip Zakynthos? That is up to you. But if the caretta-caretta can't lay its eggs then it will disappear and in my opinion the people of Laganas, the Greek Government and the European Commission are all to blame. So until the area of Laganas is truly protected one way to contribute to saving the caretta-caretta is by not going there. There are plenty of other islands with nice beaches.
Want to learn more? For information and to find out what you can do to help E-mail medasset@medasset.org
If you are still interested in going to Zakynthos you can find hotels at www.hotelsofgreece.com/ionian
For backpackers and budget travelers You can Book CHEAP Hotels in Greece with Hostelbookers an independent hostel booking site that has NO BOOKING FEES!
With youth hostels and cheap accommodation in over 2,000 destinations worldwide, their aim is to be the number one site for student travel, backpackers and for the general traveller. Whether you want a hostel in Athens, London, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Sydney, New York or any other worldwide destination, they can provide a selection of great hostels that will fit your budget and your expectations!