‘The future is bright’: breeding programme brings world’s heaviest insect back from the brink
New Zealand scientists have revived the wētāpunga, the planet’s heaviest insect that can reach mouse-like weight, through a captive‑breeding initiative. Decades of predation and loss of native forest drove the species toward extinction. The program, involving careful rearing and predator‑free island releases, aims to restore wild populations and safeguard the unique bug for future generations.