Video - Hundreds of tiny stick insect eggs arrive at Bristol Zoo in an international effort to save one of the world’s rarest insects

Lord Howe Island stick insect eggs have been sent to Bristol from Melbourne Zoo as part of a captive breeding program to prevent the species from becoming extinct.

The critically endangered creature was thought to be extinct until 2001. Bristol Zoo is hoping to be the one of the first collections outside of Australia to successfully breed the species as part of a global programme. Conservationists have now deemed the species so important and endangered that additional captive breeding groups need to be established around the world. Bristol Zoo has been selected as having the necessary expertise and facilities to receive 300 of the precious, pea-sized eggs, along with Toronto and San Diego Zoos.

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