Nearly 200 ‘giant’ bugs — among largest in the world — released in New Zealand
Nearly 200 critically endangered giant wētā were relocated to a New Zealand mountain where they will live in safety, “free of predators and threats,” wildlife officials said.
Measuring up to 2.75 inches, the Māhoenui giant wētā is one of the largest insects in the world, according to a news release from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation.
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On Aug. 27, 193 Māhoenui giant wētā were translocated to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari — a process done just twice before in 2012 and 2013, officials said.
First discovered in 1962, the species is classified as “nationally critical” and can only be found at three locations on New Zealand’s North Island. Their natural predators include rodents, hedgehogs, possums, cats and weasels, according to experts.
To ensure the species’ survival, the Department of Conservation has worked closely with the Ōtorohanga Kiwi House to breed the species in captivity with the goal of releasing them into a safe, natural habitat, according to the release.
It is the species’ only captive breeding program, according to officials.
“Releasing the precious offspring ... is really rewarding for everyone involved,” Department of Conservation Senior Biodiversity Adviser Amanda Haigh said in the release.
“Our hope is they breed with offspring of those Māhoenui giant wētā released at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari in 2012-13,” Haigh said.
Mathew Ronaldson, Ōtorohanga Kiwi House wildlife manager, said in the release that “each wētā underwent thorough health checks and individual monitoring to maximise survival and successful adaptation to the wild habitat.”
“With sightings of Mahoenui giant wētā increasing each year on Maungatautari, we’re honoured to provide a safe haven where they can continue to thrive,” Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari said in an Aug. 27 Facebook post.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Nearly 200 ‘giant’ bugs — among largest in the world — released in New Zealand."
