Based on the outskirts of Dalyan at Iztuzu beach you will find the Dekamer Turtle Hospital established by Kaptan June in 2011.
There is an Information Centre and Museum in Kaptan June’s Hut at the minibus side of the beach. Her work was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II in the 2011 British New Year’s Honors List.
June first visited southwestern Turkey for the first time in July 1975, where she came by boat that she had bought in Greece. Between 1975 and 1981 she occasionally stopped at İztuzu Beach and Dalyan on her boat trips and was therefore called “Kaptan June” (Captain June) by the locals.
In 1984 she settled in Dalyan. When it became clear that there were plans to exploit the beach for mass tourism, she started a campaign to preserve İztuzu Beach as a breeding habitat for the loggerhead turtle, which is on the IUCN Red List.
June Haimoff lived in Dalyan until her death in in April 2022. A monument to Kaptan June and what she did for the area can be found in Dalyan town center.
Sea turtles are one of the oldest species alive on the planet earth. It is essential that they are protected and treated in case of injury in order to ensure the continuation of the species. In the Mediterranean, there are Sea Turtle treatment centres in Italy, Greece and Israel. The fact that such a centre (DEKAMER – Dalyan Turtle Hospital) was founded in Dalyan, at Iztuzu Beach, and was chosen the “Best Open Air Zone of Europe’’, is significant in terms of promoting Turkey’s reputation.
The Sea Turtles Research, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (DEKAMER) was established as a unique contract between the Social Environmental Protection Agency of the Ministry of the Environment and Forestry (EPASA); Directorate-General of Environmental Protection and National Reserves, the Municipality of Dalyan and Pamukkale University.
In its first year 26 injured sea turtles were brought to DEKAMER (Dalyan Turtle Hospital), 20 of these were successfully treated and released back to the sea. Unfortunately 6 could not be saved. The centre continues its training activities to promote “public awareness towards preservation which is one of its missions. Especially in the summer season when there are many visitors, people are invited to see the premises and are given information on the works carried out, with brochures and films also made to enlighten the public.
Entry to the Turtle Hospital and Junes Hut are free, however you will find donation boxes located around the museum. You are also able to buy promotional items such as pens, keyrings, bags, T-shirts etc all with money going towards the hospitals upkeep. The tour operator Tui sponsers a few of the rehabilitation tanks at the hospital.
At the entry to the hospital there is a mini museum with information on the turtles how they develop from Egg to full grown turtle. How they bury their eggs and what can be done to protect them. Theres also an area inside where information films are played and you can listen to the projects that are currently being undertaken.
Once inside the hospital area you will find lots of large green tanks which house the injured turtles. At each tank is a board advising age/gender of turtle and what happened to them. There are a number of students working there that speak good English and can tell you about the treatment and release of the turtles.
You can help them via donations, you can even volunteer to help at the center, more information can be found on their site here https://www.dekamer.org.tr/index-eng.html
Track a treated and released turtle named Talay https://www.dekamer.org.tr/talay-eng.html
Address: DEKAMER (Sea Turtle Rescue Centre) Dalyan, Mugla, TURKEY
Visiting hours: Every day of the week from 10:00 am to 06:00 pm
Phone: +90252 289 0077
Mobile: +90538 403 2501
E-mail: [email protected]
From Dalyan Town center you will need to take the Dolmus to Iztuzu Beach. It is 11.6km from Dalyan Town Center (about half an hour on the dolmus). The beach area where the Turtle hospital is located is the last stop, travelling through beautiful countryside en-route.
Iztuzu beach is a protected area and there is an entrance fee to access the beach. 30tl in 2022. The beach itself has Toilets/showers and there is a cafe bar to the front. Please note the wooden posts on the beach – these are the Turtle nesting areas and it is forbidden to sit in between the 2 rows.
From the beach area walk up away from the beach to the right side of the Showers/Toilets, there is a single forest track – suitable to drive up if you go in the car but park on the road side near Kaptan Junes hut. The hospital can be found about 400m up that road on the left just after the Hut just before on the right.
There are many trips to Dalyan some may incorporate a trip to the Turtle hospital, but the beach is nice so its quite feasible to spend the whole day there and then maybe back into Dalyan for Dinner. The beach is sandy and shelves gently so ideal for children, does get busy on a Sunday as many families come for a beach picnic.
