*****”Prague Zoo at Forefront of Efforts to Save Endangered Insect”*****
PRAGUE (AP) — The Prague Zoo is playing a key role in a global initiative to safeguard a rare insect that was believed to have disappeared over 80 years ago. Alongside five other institutions worldwide, the zoo has successfully created a habitat for the largest known flightless insect, the Lord Howe Island stick insect, which can grow up to 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) in length. Visitors have the unique opportunity to see these insects on display, a privilege shared only with London and San Diego.
Originally from a secluded archipelago in the Tasman Sea near Australia, the Lord Howe Island stick insect faced extinction due to the arrival of rats on the uninhabited island in 1918. However, traces of the insect were discovered by mountain climbers in the 1960s on a rocky island located 23 kilometers (14 miles) off the coast of Lord Howe. By 2001, it was confirmed that a few specimens were surviving there. To protect and propagate the critically endangered species, two pairs were brought to Australia for breeding.
VojtÄ›ch VÃt, a seasoned keeper at the Prague Zoo, emphasized the incredible resilience of these insects, which managed to survive on the treacherous Balls Pyramid for a century. Now, they require meticulous care in captivity, given their susceptibility to bacterial and viral infections. To ensure the success of the breeding program, the zoo had to construct a specialized, air-conditioned facility equipped with disinfection tools to safeguard the insects and secure approval from Australian authorities.
The ultimate aim of the breeding initiative is to reintroduce the insect to its native habitat on Lord Howe Island following the successful eradication of rats from the island in 2019.
