A team from Solomon Islands 2023 travelled to Haevo Khulano - an integrated conservation area in the province of Isabel - to witness the satellite tagging of leatherback turtles.

A sea turtle, called Solo, has been chosen as the mascot for next year's Pacific Games in Honiara.

Solomon Islands 2023 decided to name one of the leatherback turtles Solo - it measured 167 centimetres in length.

The team of rangers from Haevo Khulano managed to attach a satellite tracker on Solo to enable them to track its return to the nesting ground.

According to the satellite navigation system, Solo returned to Haevo Beach several times to lay clutches of eggs.

The nesting season is expected to conclude in February next year.

Solomon Islands 2023 has confirmed that Haevo Khulano rangers and scientists have now attached satellite tags to seven nesting leatherback turtles.

Among those include one called Lady Maga, the first satellite-tagged turtle, who returned to Haevo after 10 days at sea to lay another clutch of eggs.

Honiara is due to stage the Pacific Games between November 19 and December 2 in 2023, following a four-month delay blamed on COVID-19.

Solo was unveiled as the event's mascot in May, although was only named in August.

Sea turtles are endemic to the Solomon Islands and Solo also incorporates the country's four national colours of green, blue, yellow and white.