Phasmid: Saving the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect presents the amazing true story of the Lord Howe Island Phasmid, or Stick Insect. Believed to be extinct for nearly eighty years, the phasmids were rediscovered on Balls Pyramid, a volcanic outcrop 23 kilometres off the coast of Lord Howe Island, Australia. News of their unbelievable survival made headlines around the world and prompted an extraordinary conservation effort to save this remarkable invertebrate. This wonderful tale captures the life of one of the world's most critically endangered invertebrates, from beginning life as an egg to surviving harsh environments and the hopeful return to their homeland, Lord Howe Island. With a captivating narrative by Rohan Cleave, invertebrate zookeeper at Melbourne Zoo, and stunning watercolour illustrations by renowned artist Coral Tulloch, Phasmid is a positive story about one species' incredible survival in a time of worldwide species decline.
Rohan Cleave is a zookeeper at Melbourne Zoo, where he has been involved in the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect recovery breeding program since 2003. He now manages the program at Melbourne Zoo.
Coral Tulloch is an award-winning illustrator who has worked on close to 60 fiction and non-fiction books for children, both in Australia and internationally.
"Phasmid tells the remarkable story of the rediscovery and rescue of the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect. It was thought that this species was extinct – lost forever – until one moonlit night a few surviving insects were found on a single bush peeking out of a rock crevice. The race was on to save the species, and with the determination and passion of some dedicated people, the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect was brought back from the edge of extinction. Rohan Cleave's inspiring text and Coral Tulloch's evocative illustrations showcase this amazing insect, and give us hope and proof that we can make a difference."
– Dr Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder – The Jane Goodall Institute & UN Messenger of Peace