08 Nov 2024

The conservation jewel of the South Pacific – Tetepare Island

Today, we arrived at Tetepare Island in the Solomon Islands, the largest uninhabited tropical island in the Southern Hemisphere. We were welcomed by Mary Bea, who led the vital campaign to save this island from logging in 1994. 

It was a fantastic experience as villagers arrived from nearby islands to sell their wood carvings and perform a captivating cultural showcase.

Afterwards, Mary shared the story of saving the island from logging, and we went on several walks through this tropical paradise, known as one of the conservation jewels of the South Pacific. We were privileged to see an example of this conservation work up close at the Tetepare Eco Lodge, where we had great observations of the awe-inspiring Coconut Crab.

Images © S. Bradley, Heritage Expeditions