FindingaPartner
PasoPacíficoalsoteamedupwithwildlifebiologistHelenPheasey.Pheaseywaswillingtoplantsomedecoy eggs.
Shehadthreegoals.Findoutifthetechnologyintheeggswouldworkinthefield.Seeifthedesigncouldtrickpoachers.Makesurethatthefakeeggsdidnotdisturbtherealeggs’ health.
Sofar,thenewshasbeengood.Thehealthy eggsarenotbotheredbythefakeeggs.Thepoachershavebeenfooled.Andthetracking works!
APasoPacificoturtlerangercollectsturtleeggsforsafekeeping nearby.
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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUNG EXPLORER
(ISSN 1930-8116) is published seven times during the school year—September, October, November– December, January–February, March, April, May—by National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Attn: Young Explorer Magazine, National Geographic Society, PO Box 291875, Kettering, OH 45429. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices.
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DEVELOPMENT
Editorial Director: Richard Easby
Creative Director: Karen Thompson
Editorial Manager: Brenna Maloney
Senior Editor: Corinne Rucker
Media Manager: Jay Sumner
Rights Clearance Specialist: Jean Cantu
Designer: Patrick Cavanagh
Production: Emily McKean
Digital Content Platform: H5mag
BUSINESS AND OPERATIONS
Operations Manager: Emily Mallozzi
Program Manager: Erin West Kephart
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION
VP, Strategy & Innovation: Jenny Aguilar
VP, Global Education Strategy: Lina Gomez
VP, Education Programs: Kim Hulse
Digital Design: Schuttelaar & Partners
Digital Content Platform: H5mag
PUBLISHED BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
President & CEO: Tracy R. Wolstencroft
CFO & COO: Mike Ulica
EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary: Angelo Grima
EVP, Chief Education Officer: Dr. Vicki Phillips
Chief Administrative Officer: Tara Bunch
EVP, Chief Scientist: Jonathan Baillie
Chief of Content, Communications and Public Affairs: Kalee Kreider
SVP, Global Engagement: Emma Carrasco
SVP, Storytelling: Kaitlin Yarnall
Chief Human Resources Officer: Mara Dell
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC YOUNG EXPLORER
(ISSN 1930-8116) is published seven times during the school year—September, October, November– December, January–February, March, April, May—by National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Attn: Young Explorer Magazine, National Geographic Society, PO Box 291875, Kettering, OH 45429. Periodical postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices.
Copyright © 2019 National Geographic Society. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents of National Geographic Young Explorer without written permission is prohibited. National Geographic, National Geographic Young Explorer, and the Yellow Border are trademarks of the National Geographic Society.
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KimWilliams-Guillenexplainstovolunteershowthefakeseaturtleeggs work.
WhatComesNext
Thesystemisn’tperfect.Somecellularnetworkshavelimitedabilitytotracktheeggs.But,it’sagood start!
Usingmorefakeeggsisthenextstep.Withmoredata,theteamcanmakeamaptoshowwheretheeggsaretraded.Thelocationswillhelpexplainthedemandforturtle eggs.
ExpertsbelievemostofthestoleneggsgotoElSalvadororGuatemala.Theythinktheeggsarebeingshippedoverseas,too.Newmarketsfortheeggswillmaketrademoredifficulttofight.
Still,theinformationgatheredcouldhelppolicecapturepoachers.Williams-Guilléndoesn’tthinkherfakeeggswillsolvetheproblemofpoaching.Butitcouldbeapowerfultool.Withotherconservationefforts,itcouldhelpensurethatseaturtlesaresafeforthe future.
Protectingseaturtlesalsoprotectstheenvironment.Healthyoceansneedsea turtles.
Seaturtlescanliveformorethan50years.Theyareanimportantpartofahealthymarineecosystem.Nicaragua’sbeacheshavelongbeennesting grounds.
greenseaturtle
Length:100centimeters(3.2feet)
Weight:180kilograms (397pounds)
Presence:CaribbeanCoast,Pacific Coast
Status: Endangered
ManygreenturtlesarecaughtinNicaraguafor food.
Seaturtlescanliveformorethan50years.Theyareanimportantpartofahealthymarineecosystem.Nicaragua’sbeacheshavelongbeennesting grounds.
hawksbillseaturtle
Length:upto94centimeters (3feet)
Weight:80kilograms (176pounds)
Presence:CaribbeanCoast,Pacific Coast
Status:Critically Endangered
Theshellofthehawksbillturtleisoftenusedtomake souvenirs.
Seaturtlescanliveformorethan50years.Theyareanimportantpartofahealthymarineecosystem.Nicaragua’sbeacheshavelongbeennesting grounds.
leatherbackseaturtle
Length:150centimeters (5feet)
Weight:upto700kilograms (1,543pounds)
Presence:CaribbeanCoast,Pacific Coast
Status:Critically Endangered
Theleatherbackturtleisthelargestseaturtlelivingon Earth.
Seaturtlescanliveformorethan50years.Theyareanimportantpartofahealthymarineecosystem.Nicaragua’sbeacheshavelongbeennesting grounds.
oliveridleyseaturtle
Length:upto74centimeters(2.4feet)
Weight:45kilograms (100pounds)
Presence:Pacific Coast
Status: Vulnerable
Oliveridleyturtlesarethemostabundantseaturtle,yettheyarestill endangered.