AM Expedition: Solomon Islands

This page aggregates content created about and by scientists working in the Solomon Islands researching mammalian biodiversity.

Chief Esau in the forests of Malaita, Solomon Islands Our guide and leader, Chief Esau telling us about his plans for conserving Malaitan culture and biodiversity. Image: Tyrone Lavery
© Australian Museum

Introduction

In April 2016, project funding was secured for multiple expeditions to the Solomon Islands over the following year. The aim is to increase our understanding of the mammalian biodiversity in these tropical islands, combining both current scientific methods and traditional local community knowledge to do so.

Participants

Prof Tim Flannery, with 30 years experience in the field in the Solomons, is helping to facilitate the expeditions and related workshops.

Prof Rebecca Johnson, Director AMRI and conservation geneticist is participating in and facilitating the Australian Museum Research Institute component of this expedition.

Dy Tyrone Lavery is the inaugural recipient of the Australian Museum Research Institute's Expedition Fellowship for 2015/16. Tyrone is in the field in the Solomon Islands.

Dr David Maclaren is the Regional Coordinator of Kwaio communities, and working in the field.

Tommy Esau is the Community Leader, Malaita, Solomon Islands, and in the field.

Dr Jeff Noro heads the PNG Science and Technology Secretariat and is in the field.

Junior Novera is a PhD Student at UQ and regional co-ordinator for Bougainville, PNG.

6 DECEMBER 2016

Blog

'Malaitas Monster Rat' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

21 OCTOBER 2016

Blog
'Kainake and the kamare: Hot on the trail of Bougainville's giant rats' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

13 SEPTEMBER 2016

Blog
'A view of Malaita from the clouds' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

AUGUST 2016

Video
'AM Expedition: Solomon Islands, chapter 2', introduction to Tyrone Lavery.

9 AUGUST 2016

Blog
'Through village gardens and into the mist' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

11 JULY 2016

Blog
'Welkam to Honiara' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

JULY 2016

Video
'AM Expedition: Solomon Islands, chapter 1', introduction to the project.

20 MAY 2016

Blog
'Walking in the footsteps of giants' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

18 APRIL 2016

Blog
'Our current knowledge of the endemic mammals of the Solomon Islands Archipelago' by Tyrone Lavery.
Read here.

14 APRIL 2016

Article
'Solomon Islands expedition seeks to conserve the extraordinary monkey-faced bat and giant rat' by Ivy Shih for The Conversation.
Read here.

12 APRIL 2016

Article
'Tim Flannery leads expedition seeking rare animals in 'the Galapagos' of the Western Pacific' by Jemima Garrett for ABC News.
Read here.