Moa

Moa was a giant flightless bird. Moas did not have any wing bones. The South Island giant moa was a very tall up to 3m, slender, flattened head and had a bill. Moa’s could weigh up to 250kg. For millions of years the mao was the largest living animal in New Zealand and the tallest bird in the world. They laid 1-2 eggs a year. 

Moa’s ate soft leaves and fruits.

Maori people ate moa’s. They used their bones to make ornaments, fish hooks and spear points. Moa’s were killed by spears and traps.

Moa’s became extinct 200 years ago. The main cause of extinction was overhunting by humans for food. Moa chicks may have been eaten by the introduced Polynesian dog (kuri). 

By Finn