 The Moa (a
Dinornithiform) Moas were a large flightless bird of
a genus specific to New Zealand, although a distant
cousin to the Ostrich and the Emu. Some Moa grew to
turkey size while other species were up to four metres
high. It's thought the clearing of the land, particularly
in the South Island, led to the decline of Moa numbers.
Hunting also contributed. The Moa is believed to have
become extinct in the late 17th century. It was an
important source of food and adornment for the early
Polynesian settlers of New Zealand. |