Leatherback Turtle

Although protected under various national laws and international treaties, leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea), listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, are highly threatened in Solomon Islands due to exploitation of eggs, sea level rise impacts on nesting beaches, capture as bycatch in industrial fishing, and ingestion of plastics. In 2006, the Solomon Islands Government, together with the governments of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, came together through a tri-national agreement to protect this species. In support of leatherback and other marine turtle conservation, WCS provides both technical and financial support to the community ranger programs on Tetepare, Vangunu and Rendova Islands, where community rangers protect nests through regular beach patrols or through the establishment and management of turtle hatcheries.