Lookingfor
aSolution
KimWilliams-Guillénisanecologist.She’salsothedirectorofconservationscienceforPasoPacífico.ThegroupprotectsbiodiversityinCentral America.
Sheknewseaturtleeggswerepoached.Butwheredidthepoachersgo?Whowasbuyingtheeggs?Howcouldshetrackthem?Whatifshecreatedafaketurtleeggwithatrackingdeviceinit?Ifitlookedreal,wouldpoachers notice?
KimWilliams-Guillénholdsfaketurtleeggswithtrackers inside.
atime-lapsevideoofegg printing
ANewIdea
PasoPacíficosentthisideatotheWildlifeCrimeTechChallenge.Itwasselectedin2016asoneof16 winningideas.Theprizemoneywasusedtodevelopthefirstmodelofafake egg.
ArealseaturtleeggisaboutthesizeofaPing‑Pongball.Ithasasmalldentinitandisslightlysquishy.Togetthatrubberyfeel,sheneededtofindtherightsortof plastic.
Shetestedseveralandfoundtherightone.Sheuseda3-Dprinter.Thefakeeggwasclose,butitwasn’tquiteright.Inarealegg,theyolkalmostshinesthroughthe shell.
Williams-Guillénknewsheneededhelp.ShecontactedLaurenWilde,amakeupartistinLosAngeles.Wildetooktheprintedeggsandsandedthemtomakethemsmooth.Thensheputonpaintandgluetogettheright color.
Outside,thefakeeggslookalmostidenticaltorealones.ButinsideareelectronicsthatconnecttotheInternet.Theyshowthedateandtimethattheeggisatacertain location.
LaurenWildeexaminesoneofthefakeseaturtle eggs.
MakeupartistLaurenWildeusespaintandglue.Thismakesthefakeeggslook real.
Thefakeeggsarehardto spot.
Theteamcanalsofigureouthowfasttheeggismoving.Thatmayhelpthemdeterminehowtheeggisbeingtransported.Onfoot?Bya vehicle?
Eachfakeeggcostsabout$40tomake.Williams-Guillénneededseveraltotestinthefield.Luckily,PasoPacíficowasawardedanotherprizetocontinuethe project.
Eachfakeeggweighsasmuchasarealegg.However,itisstuffedwithatracking device.
