Lookingfor
aSolution
KimWilliams-Guillénisanecologist.She’salsothedirectorofconservationscienceforPasoPacífico.Thegroupprotects biodiversityinCentral America.
Sheknewseaturtleeggswerepoached,buttherewassomuchshedidn’tknow.Wheredidthepoachersgo?Whowasbuyingtheeggs?Sheneededawaytotrackthepoachers.Whatifshecreatedafaketurtleeggwithatrackingdeviceinit?Whatifsheputitinafreshseaturtlenest?Ifitlookedrealenough,poachersmightnot notice.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_january_february_2020/looking_for_a_solution_and_a_new_idea/603190/boyan_slat_copy_2.720_0_1.jpg)
KimWilliams-Guillénholdsfaketurtleeggswithtrackers inside.
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atime-lapsevideoofegg printing
ANewIdea
PasoPacíficosubmittedthisideatotheWildlifeCrimeTechChallenge.Itwasselectedin2016asoneof16winnersoutof300applicants.Theprizemoneywasusedtohelpdevelopthefirstprototypeforthefake eggs.
ArealseaturtleeggisaboutthesizeofaPing-Pongball.Ithasasmalldentinit.It’snotcoveredinahardshell.Instead,it’sslightlysquishy.Togetanalmostrubberyfeel,Williams-Guillénneededtofindtherightsortof plastic.
Shetestedseveralmaterialsbeforefindingtherightone.Sheuseda3-Dprinter toproducethefakeegg.Butitstilldidn’tlookquiteright.Inarealegg,theyellowyolkalmostshinesthroughthethin,white shell.
Williams-Guillénknewsheneededhelp.So,shecontactedLaurenWilde,aspecialeffectsandmakeupartistinLosAngeles.Wildetooktheprintedeggsandsandedthemtomakethemsmooth.Thensheappliedcoatsofpaintandgluetogettheright color.
Fromtheoutside,thefakeeggslookalmostidenticaltorealones.Butontheinside,thefakeeggispackedwiththekindofelectronicsyoumightfindinacellphone.Theyconnecttotheinternet.Theyrevealthedateandtimethattheeggisatacertain location.
LaurenWildeinspectsoneofthefakeseaturtle eggs.
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![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_january_february_2020/looking_for_a_solution_and_a_new_idea/603193/new_ideas3.480_0_1.jpg)
HollywoodmakeupartistLaurenWildeusespaintandglueonthefakeeggstomakethemlook real.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_january_february_2020/looking_for_a_solution_and_a_new_idea/603198/new_idea4.640_0_1.jpg)
Thefakeeggsarehardto spot.
Onewasplacedontopofthis nest.
Notonlycantheteamtracktheegg,theycanalsofigureouthowfasttheeggismoving.Thatmayhelpthemdeterminethekindoftransportationusedtomovethe egg.
Eachfakeeggcostsabout$40tomake.AndWilliams-Guillénneededseveraltotestinthefield.Luckily,PasoPacíficowasawardedanotherprizetofurtherdevelopthe project.
Eachfakeeggweighsasmuchasarealegg.However,itisstuffedwithatracking device.
![](/nationalgeographic/pathfinder_january_february_2020/looking_for_a_solution_and_a_new_idea/603227/brightcove_6104536298001.960_0_1.jpg)