‘Solo’ the leatherback still in Isabel waters

Solo, a 167-centimetre-long leatherback turtle named after the Sol2023 Pacific Games Official Mascot, is still within Haevo waters, in Isabel province.

Since being fitted with a satellite tag whilst nesting in November last year (2023), Solo has since nested four more times at the Haevo nesting grounds and continues to remain within the waters there.

The satellite tagging of Solo was part of the partnership between The Nature Conservancy Solomon Islands (TNCSI) and the Games Organizing Committee to advocate for the conservation of turtles in the Pacific.

Satellite tags are used to track migratory movement of leatherback turtles from their feeding area to their breeding grounds. It is aimed at collecting information of the leatherbacks through tracking and analysing turtle movements during their nesting and post nesting season.

Within the months of October to February each year is the peak time whereby leatherback turtles come to nest at the Haevo nesting grounds – Solo being one them this time round.

The successful tagging of Solo the leatherback turtle has enabled TNCSI and GOC to track and pinpoint where Solo is either in the Pacific Ocean or beyond.

Satellite tracking updates provided by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) revealed that Solo the leatherback turtle is still within the Haevo area since nesting once in late November, three times in December 2022 and again early January of this year.

“Solo is still staying around the Haevo nesting beach.

“After being tagged while nesting late November last year, she returned to nest again on the 9th, 19th and 28th of December. On the 7th of January, 2023 – she (Solo the leatherback turtle) nested for the fifth time at Haevo,” TNC Melanesian Program Director, Richard Hamilto revealed.

Solo’s satellite tag also showed Solo’s deepest dive over the past six weeks has been down to 342 meters.

Meanwhile more updates on Solo the leatherback turtle will be provided throughout the course of this year leading up to the start of the 2023 Pacific Games come November 19th to December 2nd, 2023.