A poker resort like no other, EPT Cyprus even has – what? – turtles!
Paris might have the Eiffel Tower, but EPT Cyprus has the only rehabilitation centre for turtles on the global poker circuit
The European Poker Tour (EPT) has visited two brand new destinations this year, each a roaring success. Paris immediately became the most popular European EPT destination outside of Barcelona, while this week North Cyprus also broke attendance records on its debut.
While the appeal of Paris is fairly obvious — who wouldn’t want to head to the City of Love at Valentine’s Day? — Cyprus’s attraction lies in its superlative tournament facilities at the Merit Diamond resort, as well as it all-inclusive, beachside luxury.
It also has turtles.
Sorry, what?
You read that right. Turtles.
A UNIQUE ATTRACTION
While excursions in Paris might have led errant poker players along the Champs Elysees or beneath the Eiffel Tower, anyone wanting to take a walk here in Cyprus should head past the Crystal Cove to the Turtle Rehabilitation Centre.
The EPT is always coming up with new ways to wow its players, and this is one of the most unusual.
A turtle, yesterday
As you certainly know, Cyprus is an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, surrounded by rugged cliffs and choppy seas. It’s the perfect habitat for sea turtles, but they can sometimes run into difficulty on overpopulated beaches, or in collision with boats, among other hazards.
The rehabilitation centre at the Merit rescues injured turtles, keeps them in tanks at the resort, and nurses them back to health. There is a team of specialist veterinarians who can seal damaged shells or help the creatures regain their buoyancy.
There are even sometimes turtles who have lost a leg and need to learn to swim again.
During their tenancy at the rehabilitation centre, the turtles live in individual tanks, through whose glass sides visitors to the resort can view them. The staff provides as much information as possible about the residents, with information boards displaying the turtle’s species, sex, cause of injury, its approximate age and weight and its admission date.
They also give each turtle a name.
Current residents include, for instance, Nese, a loggerhead sea turtle (caretta caretta), who became entangled in a fishing net near Kumyali, up on the north east coast of Cyprus.
Nese is enormous: she is weighs more than 30 kilos and is an estimated 40-50 years old.
EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION
Children, in particular, enjoy a trip to the rehabilitation centre to see these magnificent creatures up close. But a series of information boards also helps inform visitors about the threats to the turtles — habitat destruction, over-fishing, etc. — while also advising what people can do if they come across an injured turtle.
Visitors enjoy seeing the turtles and learning about the creatures
One board underlines how imperilled all turtles are. “Only one in a thousand sea turtles may survive to full adulthood,” it says. “Helping an injured sea turtle means looking after thousands of hatchlings for 20-30 years.”
Local schools visit the centre for lessons and to hope the next generation is compassionate around the creatures that have occupied the island’s waters long before any humans arrived.
When the turtles have been restored to health, hotel guests are invited to watch their release back into the ocean — usually at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon, on the beach outside the Crystal Cove.
There is one scheduled for this week, the penultimate day of the EPT festival, so head along for what must be an entirely unique poker experience.
MORE ABOUT THE EPT
Official EPT site
EPT Cyprus coverage hub
EPT Cyprus activities guide
