Tench Island

Enusi, also known as Tench Island, is a small, low-lying, coral island in the St Matthias Islands group in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. Administratively, it is part of New [Ireland Province] and lies about 100 km north of Kavieng, the provincial capital. It has a human population of about 100. The language of Tenis is spoken on the island, which has around 30 native speakers.
It is featured in the 2026 series Pole to Pole with Will Smith, highlighting the environmental challenges the island has faced.

History

Originally called Enusi by the founders of the island, the island was changed to Tench after being found by British marine officer Watkin Tench in 1790 by Lieutenant Philip Gidley King.

Important Bird Area

The island has been designated an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding populations of brown noddies and black noddies, based on 1973 estimates.