radio tracking a tortoise - HELP!

Every year, Shelly the tortoise gets lost or manages to escape the garden.
It can take days to find her. I would like to build a locating device so
that I can track her down.
The basic requirements are:

a) that the 'transmitter (transponder?) on the tortoise is as small as
possible.

b) that it can be made by an electronics numpty. I have basic soldering
skills, and can eventually work out a circuit diagram.

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

TIA
Floatything (an escapee from uk.rec.sailing)

 

There are tons of these on the web. Just google "rocket tracking
transmitter" or "model airplane tracking transmitter". There are many
circuits and kits available.
richard

 

Why not just paint her bright green?

 

I did think of putting an led on her so I could search at night - but she
has a tendency to bury herself in the undergrowth - hence I'm going down the
raidio route.

Floatything

 

Thanks for that Richard, I have looked briefly at these - but the ones
I've seen so far seem too big for a single Kilotort.

Floatything

 

How big is Shelly?
Richard

 

About 20cm (8") long - perhaps15cm wide (6"), 10cm (4") high, weighs 1Kg.

Floatything

 

Glue a key finder on her back.
http://www.ambitiousideas.com/gadgets.htm

--DF

 

Good call DF! I think this is the best idea. You will need to take the
responder apart and waterproof it. I gets around the problem of battery
drain since these devices draw no power until activated. Plus it will
take a minimum of electronic knowledge.
Richard

 

Try seeking some advice from the New Zealand Department of Conservation
which uses these things to keep track of kiwis and native parrots. You will
find their web site easily enough. Then start emailing.

Roger Dewhurst.

 

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=animal+tracking+transmitter

They have everything from plans to complete units.

Good Luck!
Rich

 

Green? Notwithstanding painting a tortoise's shell is very very bad for
the tortise, if I _could_ find safe tortoise paint, I'd go for blaze
orange. ;-)

Then, you can find her at night with a black light. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

They must be veeery small then 'cause I've never found one in the many kiwis
I ate. And now they track my shit?

;o)

--DF

 

I know you guys were tracked, especially abroad, but I thought they use your
cellphone for that.