Sierra Routledge/Correspondent

Drones may be a viable option for protecting the future of sea turtles.

While in Daytona Beach there are simply roped- off turtle nests, drones are now circling the coast of Morro Ayuta Beach, Mexico in an effort to protect sea turtles and their eggs.

Threatened by egg robbers known as “hueveros”, sea turtle nests have been protected by soldiers for years, but the drones are a new addition this nesting season.

The demand for the eggs is driven by a deep rooted culture of consuming them. While the practice has been banned since the late 1900s, the black market still remains strong due to claims of aphrodisiac qualities, generational turtle soup recipes, and tourist curiosity.

In fact, the demand is so high, an anonymous Discovery News source claims that “the robbers storm the beach by the dozens on horseback, wielding machetes and sometimes guns,” a practice that is hard to imagine outside of the Wild Wild West.

The drones were donated to the conservation effort by Mexico’s College of Environmental Engineers. The drones feature six rotors, camera equipment, and a GPS system.

Conservationists hope the drones will be able to offer aerial support to ground troops by providing them with data containing the whereabouts of hueveros, including the thieves’ movements along the beach. The institution of drones for sea turtle conservation highlights another important usage for drones in the future.

While we have long heard about their militant and business practicalities, an effort to save the lives of a dwindling marine species is innovative and welcomed.

This practice may prove useful for other conservation efforts with the hopes of eliminating unlawful treatment of animals and poaching.

http://theavion.com/can-drones-save-morro-ayutas-sea-turtles/