Lord Howe Island Stick Insect by Sophie Noble

 Watercolour on paper Size: 13 x 18 cm
The Lord Howe Island Stick Insect and its nymph, which appears to be bright green.
This painting is done in watercolour.
 
In 1918, the SS Makambo ship ran aground near the island, which allowed black rats to establish on the island. This introduction gave rise to an environmental disaster. The stick insects were soon considered extinct in 1920. In 2001, they were rediscovered again and have been successfully bred in captivity. The ultimate goal is to release them back to nature once the black rats problem is well managed.