Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Scientists Plan to Revive Extinct 12-Foot Moa Bird
Scientists are trying to bring back the moa, a giant bird that went extinct 600 years ago.
The moa was as tall as a basketball hoop and weighed more than a refrigerator.
A company called Colossal Biosciences is working with a famous movie director, Sir Peter Jackson, and a research center in New Zealand to make this happen.
They want to use DNA from the moa's relatives, like emus and tinamous, to create a surrogate bird that can lay moa eggs.
This is really hard because the moa is very different from its living relatives.
The scientists hope that one day, they can have moa chicks hatching again.
This project is also important because the moa is part of the local Maori tribe's stories and culture.
Colossal Biosciences plans to revive the extinct moa bird, which was 12 feet tall and weighed over 500 pounds.
The project involves sequencing and reconstructing the genomes of all nine extinct moa species.
Researchers aim to create a surrogate bird using living species, genetically altered to resemble the moa.
The Ngai Tahu Research Centre is overseeing the project in partnership with the Maori tribe and the University of Canterbury.
Scientists are considering using an emu as a surrogate due to its similar size, despite challenges with egg size.
- Who
- Colossal Biosciences, Ngai Tahu Research Centre, Sir Peter Jackson
- What
- Plan to revive the extinct moa bird
- When
- Ongoing, with no specific timeline provided
- Where
- New Zealand
- Why
- To protect endangered species and connect with tribal lore
- Species
- Moa
- Height
- 12 feet
- Weight
- Over 500 pounds
- Extinction Time
- 600 years ago
- Location
- New Zealand
- Project Lead
- Colossal Biosciences
- Partner
- Ngai Tahu Research Centre
- Investor
- Sir Peter Jackson