Destination – San Diego Zoo USA!
The Lord Howe Island Stick Insect breeding program has once more taken to the skies and landed on international soil in the United States. San Diego Zoo is now part of our commitment to save this species from extinction by establishing a breeding program at their Entomology Department.
Photo by Kelli Walker, San Diego Zoo USA
99 Lord Howe Island Stick Insect eggs were carefully collected and prepared for shipment on the 28th of May this year. Staff at Melbourne Zoo collected the eggs that were planned to hatch over the coming months shortly after arriving. San Diego Zoo staff could not visit Melbourne Zoo to see how we manage our LHISI’s so information was shared between staff via emails and this proved to be a valuable tool in sharing knowledge. Once the eggs arrived they were transferred to a facility ready for hatching which is able to be maintained at just the right environmental conditions this species requires.
Photo by Kelli Walker, San Diego Zoo USA
On the 15th of June the first Lord Howe Island Stick Insect emerged at San Diego Zoo. Communication is ongoing to assist the experienced team at San Diego Zoo in their efforts to care for this critically endangered species. The aim of this breeding program at San Diego Zoo is to establish a healthy population in the United States. In time we hope that other internationally recognised Zoos can be included in this breeding program around America and throughout the world.
Lord Howe Island Stick Insects are very particular about the conditions they live in and it is essential that temperature and humidity ranges are kept at the recommended settings. It is great to have San Diego Zoo join Melbourne Zoo in ongoing efforts to save this species and we wish them well for the journey with this amazing Invertebrate.
Hi Emily
Thanks for posting your comment. We think they are very special too. Hope you are able to visit us soon as there are some exciting new things happening with the Lord Howe Island Stick Insects.
