Eggs Designed With 3-D Technology and Radio-trackers Set to Intercept Smugglers
Sarah Birnbaum is a turtle egg smuggler, but this is far from what you may be thinking. Partnering with conservationist Kim Williams-Guillen, she participates in an ingenious project to reduce poaching incidents. Williams-Guillen, an employee of Paco Pacifico, thought up the perfect plan. They would create a fake turtle egg equipped with a radio-tracking device inside in order to intercept real smugglers in the act. Thanks to a generous grant from the US Agency for International Development, the project can become a reality. Designed wtih state-of-the-art 3-D technology, these eggs are placed inside the nests and the plan is to retrieve valuable location data from stolen eggs. This data will reveal smuggling routes which will assist authorities in tracking down the culprits involved with this damaging trade.
Turtle News From Around the World
Conservation
USA: Join this center in celebrating 10 years of conservation
AU: Kids raise awareness for sea turtle threats
Africa: 20,500 sq. miles of habitat now protected
Biology
USA: Haven for Terrapene creates opportunities for important research
USA: Meet the gem of North American turtles
Crime & Punishment
USA: Reptile hoarding situation uncovered
Ecology
India: Vessels given permission to sail through turtle sanctuary
USA: Drain malfunction detrimental to turtle university research
Miscellany
USA: Guess what the new New Jersey state reptile is!
USA: Enjoy an evening stroll with the sea turtles
USA: Hear from dedicated volunteer about sea turtle season
Did You Know…
The scutes of the chelonian carapace are composed of keratin, which is also the composition of the human fingernail.
Question or Concerns? Want to submit an article to get posted? Email us at [email protected].
Photo from Luis Galdamez.
