FindingaPartner

PasoPacíficoteamedupwithwildlifebiologistHelenPheasey.Pheaseywaswillingtoplantsomedecoy eggs.


Shehadthreegoals.First,sheneededtoseeifthetechnologyintheeggswouldworkinthefield.Second,sheneededtoseeifthedesignoftheeggscouldtrickpoachers.Andthird,sheneededtomakesurethatthefakeeggsdidnotdisturbtherealeggs’ health.


Sofar,thenewshasbeengood.Thehealthyeggsarenotbotheredbythefakeeggs.Thepoachershavebeenfooled.Andthetrackingworks.Pheaseywasabletotracksomedecoystotheirdestinations.Thesystemisn’tperfect.Limitedcellnetworkscouldlimittheirabilitytotracktheeggs.But,it’sagood start!

APasoPacificoturtlerangercollectsturtleeggsforsafekeeping nearby.

KimWilliams-Guillenexplainstovolunteershowthefakeseaturtleeggs work.

WhatComesNext

Usingmorefakeeggsisthenextstep.Withmoredata,itwillbeeasiertomakeamaptoshowwheretheeggsaretraded.Thelocationswillhelptheteambetterunderstandthedemandforturtle eggs.


ExpertsbelievemostofthestoleneggsmaketheirwaytoElSalvadororGuatemala.Thereisalsoaconcernthatseaturtleeggsarebeingshippedoverseas.Ifthisistrue,itcouldmeannewmarketsfortheeggs.Andatradethatwouldbehardertocombat.Still,theinformationgatheredbytheteamcouldhelppolicecapture poachers.

Thedatacouldalsobeusedforconservationprojects,suchasbeachpatrolstomonitorthe nests.


Williams-Guilléndoesn’tthinkherfakeeggswillsolvetheproblemofturtleeggpoaching.Butshedoesthinkitcouldbeapowerfultool.Combinedwithotherconservationefforts,itcouldhelpensurethatseaturtlesaresafeforthe future.

Protectingseaturtlesalsoprotectstheenvironment.Healthyoceansneedsea turtles.