The Kikori Delta is renowned for its ecological significance, rich biodiversity, and fascinating culture. Extensive mangroves, forest, wetland, and delta habitats make up this ecologically important and biologically diverse area in the gulf province of southern Papua New Guinea.
The region’s cultural and biological diversity is deeply intertwined, and this piece explores five culturally significant species through the fascinating Melanesian legends, customs, and taboos you may not know.
Pidu: The Gope legend of the snubfin dolphins
Interestingly, the Australian snubfin dolphin closely resembles the Irrawaddy dolphin, both of which are close relatives of the killer whale. Dave Johnston CC BY 2.0 DEED
The Coastal societies of the Kikori call the snubfin dolphin Pidu, a name that also refers to the women and children belonging to the Gope tribe. In the Wowobo village within Gope, the story of Pidu recalls a tale of greed among men who would hide meat from women and children and consume it in private. Women in the village discovered this when a mother found pork in her son’s teeth after using a tooth pick to cure his toothache. Outraged, the chief’s wife gathered all women and children, declaring they would leave the village. They then leapt into the river and transformed into snubfin dolphins. Today, coastal tribes like the Gope, Kerewo, and Urama see these dolphins as their ancestors, perceive them as sacred, and vow to not consume their meat.
Pig-nosed turtle: Mother of the river
The Piku Biodiversity Network leads the Kikori Turtle Rangers project, uniting youth from seven tribes to conserve the culturally significant pig-nosed turtle. Jin Kemoole CC BY 2.0 DEED
Piku, kaso-uwo, watemui, watemu, uwo, waema. These are all are names given to the pig-nosed turtle by the different tribes along the Kikori River. Names of species hold cultural knowledge, and the many names of species in the Kikori basin according to the different tribes allude to many legends, customs, and taboos. For instance, the Kerewo tribe see the turtle as an origin animal, a mother species who provides. There is also a belief that mothers whose babies or toddlers have not yet walked cannot consume the meat of the pig-nosed turtle because their children will never leave the crawling stage, like a turtle. The Rumu tribe (and clans within the tribe), refer to the turtle as Piku, and believe all turtles in the region descend from a single individual. Legend depicts the story of Matau, a revered female turtle, believed to have spread her species down the Kikori River, her legacy woven into the river’s flow.
Sawfish: The rite of passage
Sawfish are now Critically Endangered, extinct in over 90% of their former global habitats. Simon Fraser University CC BY 2.0 DEED
Papua New Guinea is seen as one of the last places in the world with healthy populations of sawfish, named gabora, maiwo, kabaro, or peirimoro. They are a Kerewo symbol of maturity and manhood, so after a young boy wears the rostrum of a sawfish, he has ‘caught himself’. Additionally, if a young woman or couple see a sawfish in their dreams, it is considered a sign that a pregnancy may be on the way. In Urama folklore, the sawfish embodies the spirit of gabora, a figure born of a tribal woman who now dwells in the depths of the Damaibari stream, ready to guide and protect those who call upon them while crossing the channel.
Crocodiles: A symbol of consequence
These prehistoric creatures play a vital role in Papua New Guinea’s ecosystem. © Merlijn van Weerd, Mabuwaya Foundation
The Rumu tribe calls the freshwater crocodile unamo, while the Kerewo, Urama, and Pa’ia tribes refer to the saltwater crocodile as ebiha and hiba, respectively. In these societies, crocodiles are regarded as origin animals and serve as a symbol for clan identities, linking people to their ancestral roots. Amongst coastal Kikori communities, crocodile attacks are connected to black magic or even a consequence of bad karma, reflecting how the crocodile is both feared and respected. The trade of crocodile skin was once a booming business in the 1970s and 1980s, with the Kikori River being a prime channel for transporting skins. However, the outbreak of a skin disease largely put an end to this trade in the region, which positively benefited species populations.
Horo and Hapopo: The taboo turtles of Southern New Guinea
The species is unique to the lowlands of southern New Guinea. Rachid H CC 2.0 BY DEED
The southern new guinea softshell turtle holds a special place in the culture of communities along the Vailala River which leads to the Kikori Delta. The name for this species of turtle in the Vailala language depends on the size of the individual: smaller turtles are called hapopo and horo refers to large turtles. However, it is forbidden to speak of horo, as mentioning this large turtle is believed to summon floods, proving the symbolic power of turtles within these communities.
