Meet the Lord Howe Island stick insect—a peculiar creature so rare it was once thought completely extinct, earning itself the affectionate nickname 'walking sausage' and the title of this year's invertebrate of the year.

Also known as the tree lobster, this ultra-rare insect was driven to the brink of extinction by European settlers who arrived on the Australian island centuries ago. Yet thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, this remarkable species has made a stunning comeback, proving that even when we nearly erase a species from existence, there's still hope for recovery. Read the full story →

Today's takeaway: Sometimes the smallest creatures deliver the biggest message: that with commitment and care, we can reverse even our deepest conservation mistakes.