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.

Go to article: PathfinderGo to article: In This IssueGo to article: To Catch a ThiefGo to article: Struggle for Survival & Trip to the Sea - To Catch a ThiefGo to article: Looking for a Solution & A New Idea - To Catch a ThiefGo to article: Finding a Partner & What Comes Next - To Catch a ThiefGo to article: Activity - To Catch a ThiefGo to article: Gorongosa’s ElephanthsGo to article: It was a beautiful place once & All in the Family - Gorongosa’s ElephanthsGo to article: Hoping to Help, Room to Roam, Big Trouble & Getting a Signal - Gorongosa’s ElephanthsGo to article: Interesting Encounters, Elephant Intervention & Lasting Impression - Gorongosa’s ElephanthsGo to article: Deep DiveGo to article: Where is your current work focused? Describe your first dive at Caesarea & What Go to article: What’s the next mystery you’re trying to solve? What are three qualities that an explorer in your field must have? What are three things you never dive without? & What’s the hardest part about being an explorer? - Deep DiveGo to article: The End