Tetepare Island

Tetepare Island is an island in Western Province, in the independent nation of Solomon Islands. Tetepare supports pristine lowland rainforest and a rich inshore marine area. Tetepare Island is identified as an area with high biodiversity and conservation values.

The meaning of the name is uncertain; it most probably means "wild pig" or "fighting boar" because the island was (and to some degree still is) famous for these animals among inhabitants of the region.

The local residents were apparently once a distinct ethnic group; a Tetepare language and unique traditions are attested, but information is fragmentary. Like their neighbors on Rendova Island and New Georgia, they appear to have been swidden agriculturalist, and to have occasionally practiced headhunting. But the island was abandoned in the mid-19th century, with the locals dispersing to New Georgia, Roviana Lagoon, Vona Vona Lagoon, Nggatokae and Ranongga.

At the western tip, a 3.75-square-kilometre (1.45-square-mile) coconut plantation was established in 1907–1918, but this declined since World War II and all maintenance ceased after 1990. Secondary forest is now reclaiming this area.

The island has been recognized for its conservation significance and archaeological values. A total of 230 bird species, 24 reptile, four frog and 13 mammal species have been recorded on Tetepare including rare and endemic bird and bat species.

Scientists are still discovering new species on Tetepare. In recent years, researchers discovered three new species of fish, one new fish genera and one potential new fish family in Tetepare's freshwater rivers.

Three species of marine turtles, including the critically endangered leatherback and hawksbill and the endangered green, nest on Tetepare's volcanic black sand beaches. Sharks, dolphins, crocodiles and an extraordinary diversity of fish species make the island's reefs their home. The coral reefs of the region support one of the highest diversities of fish and coral in the world, second only to Raja Ampat in Indonesia.

The island sports a rich herpetofauna, but geckos are somewhat less diverse. It supports three species of sea turtles, namely green sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, and hawksbill sea turtle. The latter two are considered critically endangered species, and the former two are known to nest on Tetepare. The Solomon Islands skink which occurs here is the largest living skink. The mangrove monitor and the pacific ground boa are also not rare here; these three scleroglossan reptiles are becoming rare in the Solomon Islands. The highly unusual green green-blooded skink can be seen on the beaches.