3D Printed sea turtle
Biologist Helen Pheasey devised a clever plan to combat sea turtle egg poaching using a 3D-printed decoy egg with a hidden tracker. Understanding the timing of sea turtle egg-laying, Pheasey took advantage of the approximately twenty-minute duration it typically takes for a sea turtle to lay her eggs. During this window, she discreetly added fake eggs to the nest, knowing that poachers would likely target the nest to steal the eggs for their purported aphrodisiac properties or as a food source.
The 3D-printed decoy egg was made from plastic and designed to resemble a real sea turtle egg closely. However, it contained a hidden tracking device. By placing the decoy egg among the authentic eggs, Pheasey aimed to track the movement of the poachers and gather valuable data on their activities.
Helen Pheasey’s use of a 3D-printed decoy egg with a hidden tracker demonstrates the creative application of technology in wildlife conservation efforts, specifically in addressing the challenges faced by sea turtles due to poaching.
Corryn Wetzel, Daily Correspondent
2020. 3-D Printed Sea Turtle Eggs Reveal Poaching Routes
October 10, 2020 at 12:16 am
That’s fascinating