Meet the living, travelling 2023 Pacific Games mascots, raising awareness for endangered species

For the first time in Pacific Games history, there is a living, breathing mascot.

Not that she’s aware of it.

After the 167cm leatherback turtle laid her precious eggs on a select few beaches in Solomon Islands, the mascot swam 1,000 kilometres, arriving in Vanuatu last week.

Vanuatu is a pit stop before Solo could make its epic Pacific Ocean crossing to California to feed on jellyfish and mate again.

This is the known migration pattern for Western Pacific leatherbacks, who are the fastest, largest and most ancient of all sea turtles.

The turtle’s co-mascot — and namesake — has things a bit easier.

Soon the other Solo — and its entourage — will complete their six-month tour through Solomon Islands nine provinces.

This month Solo will visit 26 communities and villages during its final trip in Malaita province.

Upright, and with dance moves and hugs for all, the polyester and foam mascot is hyping the Pacific Games to be held this November, and spreading a turtle conservation message across the islands at the same time.

Fighting against extinction

Solomon Islands boast the largest turtle nesting grounds in the Pacific.

Sea turtles are intrinsic to the archipelago’s culture.

For thousands of years, the green, hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles have followed an ancestral, biological drive to lay their eggs on the same beaches in Solomon Islands every mating cycle.

However, despite many tribes considering the gentle creatures a sacred animal, the latter half of the 20th century was catastrophic for sea turtles.

Harvesting for shells and meat, as well as egg collection, has driven populations to near extinction.

All three Solomon Islands nesting species are classified as endangered, with the hawksbill and Western Pacific leatherback reaching “critically endangered” status.

Current adult female numbers are believed to have dwindled to just a few thousand for each species.

However, Solomon Islands has been fighting the devastation for decades, with some success.

Marine conservation areas and protected zones, paired with community-led ranger programs, have make an impact.

The 40,000-acre Arnavon Islands Community Marine Park was the first nationally protected area in Solomon Islands, established in 1995.

Some reports attribute a 400 per cent increase of hawksbill nests to the Arnavon’s protection status.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) says hawksbill turtles dig around 2,000 nests a year within the marine park.

TNC has been working in Solomon Islands for 30 years and has partnered with the Pacific Games Organising Committee (GOC) for the 2023 Pacific Games.

Also tracking Solo the leatherback, the TNC will release the next data of her ocean travels in November, before the opening ceremony.

2023 Pacific Games to position sea turtles in hearts and minds

Solomon Islands latest conservation initiative is proving a winner.

A highlight was when the turtle mascot released a live hawksbill back into a Marine Protected Area from Boe Boe Village in Choiseul province.

“Seeing Solo, a sea turtle, being the Games Official Mascot gives us even more joy,” Boe Boe village elder Derald Daza Daniel said.

Mr Daniel echoed similar sentiments shared by those in the other provinces that Solo has visited, with the mascot’s nationwide tour making people feel part of the Pacific Games.

Games chief executive Peter Stewart said he was hopeful the messages both Solos could spread awareness throughout Solomon Islands to help protect sea turtles for many years to come.

“These creatures are so important to the culture and biodiversity of Solomon Islands and the Pacific region,” Stewart said.

Solomon Islands will host this year’s Pacific Games between November 19 and December 2.

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