Q&A with Kim Williams-Guillen

This is an interview with a Conservation Scientist that I conducted via email to learn what Paso Pacifico does to protect sea turtles.

1. What research do you do with students like me?

In Nicaragua we work with students in the Junior Ranger program and they help us by doing beach clean ups, bringing turtle nests laid on busy beaches to our nurseries so they can be protected, and by visiting beaches to see turtles.

2. What work do you do with turtles?

Paso Pacifico protects nesting beaches in Nicaragua where the mother turtles that are coming to lay eggs could be vulnerable to predation. The rangers who do this work collect data on the turtles to help monitor their populations. They also run sea turtle nurseries where they rebury nests laid by turtles on very busy beaches - where the nest could not be adequately protected.

3. How do you make the eggs look like real eggs?

Fortunately turtle eggs look a lot like ping pong balls so it is not too hard. We used to spend a lot of time painting them to make them look perfect but we realized once the eggs are covered in sand and in the nest it doesn't make much difference. The main aspect that is important is to make sure the egg feels like a real turtle egg, which is soft and squishy with a leathery shell. We do that by using a special plastic to make the egg that is also soft and squishy but helps protect the egg inside.

4. How does tracking the poachers help the turtles?

Mainly it helps by helping us to understand where pressure on different beaches is coming from. If the poachers are taking everything to local markets then we can focus on environmental education in the region of the beaches. If they are going to markets far away then we know we need to do national or regional programs to help people learn why eating sea turtle eggs is bad.

5. Once you track the poachers down, do you get the authorities involved?

Not at this time, because in order to do the research ethically we need to ensure some anonymity of the subjects. However, law enforcement agencies can purchase the fake eggs and use them themselves.

6. Can you return the eggs to the wild after the poacher is caught?

No, usually once the eggs have been disturbed and handled the special coating on them (that protects the eggs from fungi and bacteria) has been disturbed. So, if we were to put them back the eggs would probably just not survive.

7. How can you be sure the poachers won't notice the egg?

Most poachers are working very quickly at night with no flashlights because what they are doing is illegal. So, they are not being very careful on the beach. They are in a big rush to steal the eggs and run away so they do not look at each egg carefully in the moment.