This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/08/bristol-zoo-eggs-raise-hopes-for-endangered-stick-insect
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bristol zoo eggs raise hopes for endangered stick insect | Bristol zoo eggs raise hopes for endangered stick insect |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The zoo’s Lord Howe Island stick insects – once feared to be extinct – have produced a second generation of eggs | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Mon 8 Jan 2018 13.34 GMT | |
| Last modified on Mon 8 Jan 2018 13.40 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| Keepers at a British zoo are celebrating the appearance of five eggs that suggest an attempt to save one of the world’s rarest creatures – the Lord Howe Island stick insect – is working. | Keepers at a British zoo are celebrating the appearance of five eggs that suggest an attempt to save one of the world’s rarest creatures – the Lord Howe Island stick insect – is working. |
| The eggs were found at Bristol zoo gardens, which is part of a global effort to prevent the animals becoming extinct. | The eggs were found at Bristol zoo gardens, which is part of a global effort to prevent the animals becoming extinct. |
| The zoo’s effort to save the species, which hails from a remote Australian island, began in 2015, when 300 eggs, carefully packed in sterilised sand, arrived from Melbourne zoo. | The zoo’s effort to save the species, which hails from a remote Australian island, began in 2015, when 300 eggs, carefully packed in sterilised sand, arrived from Melbourne zoo. |
| Six animals reached adulthood – three breeding pairs – and produced eggs, which started hatching in May 2017. Five of those survived and have now produced eggs of their own. | Six animals reached adulthood – three breeding pairs – and produced eggs, which started hatching in May 2017. Five of those survived and have now produced eggs of their own. |
| Bristol zoo said this was significant because it is the first time outside of Australia a second generation of eggs has been laid. | Bristol zoo said this was significant because it is the first time outside of Australia a second generation of eggs has been laid. |
| Mark Bushell, curator of invertebrates, said: “We had our suspicions that the females might soon lay eggs. | Mark Bushell, curator of invertebrates, said: “We had our suspicions that the females might soon lay eggs. |
| “We have been tirelessly working with this critically endangered species for two years now, and to have achieved this success after such a lot of hard work and dedication is truly fantastic. | “We have been tirelessly working with this critically endangered species for two years now, and to have achieved this success after such a lot of hard work and dedication is truly fantastic. |
| “It is certainly one of our biggest achievements in the seven years that I have been working in the zoo’s invertebrate department and a huge boost to the European captive breeding programme for this species.” | “It is certainly one of our biggest achievements in the seven years that I have been working in the zoo’s invertebrate department and a huge boost to the European captive breeding programme for this species.” |
| It is hoped that each generation will breed with greater success as the species becomes more used to the UK’s climate and conditions. | It is hoped that each generation will breed with greater success as the species becomes more used to the UK’s climate and conditions. |
| Keepers are feeding the stick insects plants specially grown by horticulturists at the zoo. | Keepers are feeding the stick insects plants specially grown by horticulturists at the zoo. |
| Lord Howe Island stick insects were once numerous on the tiny island off the coast of Australia after which they are named. | Lord Howe Island stick insects were once numerous on the tiny island off the coast of Australia after which they are named. |
| They were believed to have been driven to extinction by black rats in the early 20th century. | They were believed to have been driven to extinction by black rats in the early 20th century. |
| But in 2001, they were rediscovered on Ball’s Pyramid – a rat-free volcanic outcrop off the coast of the island. | But in 2001, they were rediscovered on Ball’s Pyramid – a rat-free volcanic outcrop off the coast of the island. |
| Two pairs were taken to Australia to set up a captive breeding programme, which is now being rolled out across the world. Eggs were sent to Bristol, San Diego and Toronto zoos in 2015. | Two pairs were taken to Australia to set up a captive breeding programme, which is now being rolled out across the world. Eggs were sent to Bristol, San Diego and Toronto zoos in 2015. |
| The remaining population on Ball’s Pyramid comprises just 20 to 30 stick insects. | The remaining population on Ball’s Pyramid comprises just 20 to 30 stick insects. |
| Also known as tree lobsters, adult Lord Howe Island stick insects are wingless and nocturnal. | Also known as tree lobsters, adult Lord Howe Island stick insects are wingless and nocturnal. |
| Zoos | |
| Bristol | |
| Lord Howe Island | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |