The Ark In Space

Sticky: The Fascinating Story of How the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect was Saved from Extinction

Saturday, 29 September 2018

Can you bring a species back from extinction? Despite fictional accounts in books and movies like Jurassic Park the answer remains a very definite no – not in any complete way for sure. Yet species on the edge of destruction can be saved even if they are dodging extinction in the most unlikely of places.

This is the story of the rediscovery of the Lord Howe Stick Insect (Dryococelus australis) which had also been known as the tree lobster due to its size and color at maturity. It was thought to have been made extinct by 1920 – game over. Yet Lord Howe Island has an islet – a sea stack – called Ball’s Pyramid. It had been suggested that the insect may have survived there, although most thought that highly improbable.

However an Australian team of etymologists journeyed to the islet in 1981 and the rest as they say is history. Instead of telling you the whole story here, however, watch this beautifully made animation by Jilli Rose which tells the whole story. It is without words for the first few minutes but after that the oral history of the Lord Howe Stick Insect and how it was saved from almost inevitable stochastic extinction.

Don’t be put off by its length either – this is entrancing viewing.

If this has engaged your interest, then why not take a look at the first ever recording of Lord Howe stick insects hatching.

Watch as Black-Bellied Whistling Ducks Save their Ducklings from an American Alligator

Saturday, 2 May 2015

The black-bellied whistling duck makes its nest as high as possible to avoid predators. As you can see here, the bird house wasn’t exactly planned for this family!

Yet when the time comes for the ducklings to leap from the safety of the box in to the water the last thing the parents want is all their hard work to disappear in to the belly of an American alligator. When it looks as if this is likely, the plucky parent leaps in to action and drives away the reptilian onslaught!

This remarkable footage was shot and edited by Tara Tanaka

Humpback Whale Performs Amazing Act of Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets

Sunday, 11 May 2014

Michael Fishback and his family visit the Sea of Cortez, photographing whales to track them and observe their behaviors.

However, on one of their trips they had the opportunity to help save a trapped humpback whale. They took this incredible footage which shows you exactly what happened.

The young whale at first appeared to be dead. The group floated next to it for a few minutes and saw no signs of life until it exhaled. Michael eased in to the water to assess the situation and found that the whale was terribly tangled in fishing net.

Both pectoral fins were pinned to its body and it looked as if the whale would probably die unless something was done soon – and there was no time to waste. When you watch this amazing film you will see what happens next – and this time it is a happy ending. Once the whale is free though, it does something amazing – it shows its appreciation of the family and their endeavors to save him by giving them a show they will never forget.

The page cannot be found