大象传媒

Criminals who steal and sell rare turtle eggs have a new obstacle to contend with.

Inspired by an episode of Breaking Bad, conservationists in Costa Rica are using covert tracking devices to identify people who are taking the eggs.

To make sure the trackers can't be spotted they are using 3D printers and enlisted the help of Hollywood special effects artists to create undetectable replica eggs.

Conservationists have found that 90% of turtle eggs laid on beaches in Central American can be taken by smugglers, if there is no human intervention.

Dr Sarah Otterstrom - Executive Director of the conservation organisation Paso Pacifico - told Newsday it's a creative solution to a time consuming problem.

(Photo: A Loggerhead turtle emerges from it's egg. Credit: Getty Images)