Zoos Victoria’s Priority Species LORD HOWE ISLAND STICK INSECT Dryococelus australis Critically Endangered

Photo: Rohan Cleave

Zoos Victoria has played a critical role in the yet amazingly this insect was rediscovered conservation of the Lord Howe Island Stick in 2001 clinging onto Ball’s Pyramid, a Insect. We are leading a captive insurance and sea stack 23km from the island. Since breeding program to secure the survival of obtaining two individuals in 2003, Melbourne this species for future generations. The main Zoo’s breeding program and research has island population became extinct following substantially improved the long-term survival the unintentional introduction of rats in 1918, prospects of this remarkable species. Zoos Victoria is committed to Fighting Extinction We are focused on working with partners to secure the survival of our priority species before it is too late.

In 2003, two breeding pairs of Lord Howe Island Stick Insects were collected from Ball’s Pyramid to commence a captive-breeding program to save the species. One pair was entrusted to Zoos Victoria and bestowed the names Adam and Eve. Eve initially became critically ill, but with help from staff she survived and went on to lay 248 eggs. The entire captive population is descended from these original founders.

The only wild population of the Lord Howe Island Support for re-introduction KEY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES $70,000 •• Conduct intensive research into the diet, Stick Insect occurs on Ball’s Pyramid and is to Lord Howe Island. threatened by: behaviour, biology and genetics of this Activations at our zoos, online species. •• Very small population size: with so few and on Lord Howe Island that animals, inbreeding issues or disease could aim to increase community •• Maintain a captive insurance population with $20,000 the ability to reintroduce the insect onto Lord jeopardise the entire population. care and knowledge of the Howe Island once rats have been eradicated. •• Habitat disturbance: the rock-face sites are insect and generate support for the conservation projects. •• Promote community awareness of the very vulnerable to disturbance. Access to Lord Howe Island Stick Insect and support Balls Pyramid is tightly restricted to protect Support community for its conservation. the environment. engagement on LHI and •• Death of host plants and the invasion of promote community support $30,000 PROGRAM OUTCOMES Morning Glory, Ipomoea cairica, which for re-introduction on Lord Melbourne Zoo has played a fundamental role in encroaches on suitable shrubs. Howe Island, as required. the captive breeding of this species. At the time In early 2017 an expedition to Balls Pyramid led Total cost over five years $1,150,000 of their rediscovery, very little was known about by The Australian Museum resulted in a single Lord Howe Island Stick Insects, and Melbourne female being brought back to Melbourne Zoo. PROGRAM PARTNERS Zoo staff continue to conduct intensive research Named after the rock climber that found her, into this species. Vanessa injected valuable new genetic material Lord Howe Island Board •• Zoos Victoria currently maintains into our captive breeding program, being the first lhib.nsw.gov.au Individual to come from the wild population since several ‘free-ranging’ populations where NSW Office of Environment and Heritage the original collect in 2003. Re-introduction to natural social and foraging behaviours environment.nsw.gov.au can be expressed. Lord Howe Island within the next few years is now a real possibility with a rodent eradication •• Over 14,000 individuals have been bred at program underway. Melbourne Zoo, with the 15th generation expected to hatch in 2019. THE PLAN •• Individuals have also been sent to several The following actions will enable Zoos Victoria, selected institutions locally and globally for How can I help? along with our partners to move forward breeding and display, including Bristol and knowing that we are doing everything we can to We are improving San Diego Zoos, the Lord Howe Island Board prevent the extinction of this species: and Museum, and Museum Victoria. management of the captive THE SPECIES Maintain existing captive population and preparing for insurance population at $100,000 p.a The Lord Howe Island Stick Insect is also known Melbourne Zoo. future releases to Lord Howe as the ‘Land Lobster’ or ‘Tree Lobster’ because of its large and robust body. Nymphs are green Survey the wild population Island, but we still need all but their colouration begins to change at a few and, if appropriate, collect new $100,000 the support we can get. founders from Ball’s Pyramid. months of age after their second moult or instar. You can support our Wildlife Adulthood is at around six months of age and Expand the Melbourne Zoo their life expectancy is 12 to 18 months. The Lord population to support $50,000 p.a. Conservation Master Plan Howe Island Stick Insect can breed both sexually re-introductions to the wild. and asexually. Females can produce up to 300 2019-2024 by donating at: eggs in their lifetime, which they bury in the soil Genetic research to guide zoo.org.au/donate or drop on the ground. captive management and $120,000 re-introduction planning. Establish a second wild population on Blackburn $60,000 Island.

Find out more zoo.org.au/fightingextinction