Replica Moa Skull

The moa were a group of large, flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. They were part of the family Dinornithidae and were characterized by their towering height, with some species reaching up to 3.6 meters (12 feet) tall. Moa were herbivores, feeding on a diet of vegetation and likely browsing on leaves, twigs, and shrubs. Unfortunately, they became extinct around the 15th century, primarily due to hunting by the indigenous Māori people and habitat loss. Moa played significant ecological roles in New Zealand's ecosystems as large herbivores and their extinction had profound effects on the country's biodiversity.