The wētāpunga, a colossal insect that predates even the dinosaurs, is making a historic return to New Zealand’s forests after nearly two centuries of absence. Once roaming freely across Northland, Auckland, and Great Barrier, these giants were reduced to a lone refuge on Hauturu (Little Barrier Island). Their decline began around 1840, a consequence of introduced predators that nearly drove them to extinction. But hope is not lost; since 2012, Auckland Zoo has been at the forefront of a mission to reintroduce these ancient insects to their native lands. The zoo’s dedicated breeding program has successfully released over 6,000 wētāpunga … Continue reading Dinosaurs are Gone, but These Ancient Insects are Back!