<
https://www.sciencealert.com/worlds-rarest-insect-makes-stunning-comeback-after-near-extinction>
"Only 20 to 30 'tree lobsters' remain in the wild. This single fragile
population was rediscovered in 2001 after the insects were presumed extinct for
80 years.
These wild Lord Howe Island stick insects (
Dryococelus australis) currently
cling to their precarious existence on a near-vertical volcanic outcrop called
Ball's Pyramid.
Now, San Diego Zoo is inviting visitors to see the extraordinary,
extinction-defying Australian animals in person.
Prone to catastrophic weather events and landslides, Ball's Pyramid is not
exactly a safe place for a critically endangered species.
Here there's only one species of food plant,
Melaleuca howeana, for the
herbivorous stick insects to graze. These shrubs are being strangled by an
invasive vine, which can't be entirely removed as they're holding soil onto the
cliffs with their roots.
So several zoos around the world have been working to bring these large,
flightless phasmids down from their metaphorical and quite literal cliff edge."
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
