The Moa De-extinction Project explores the scientific, cultural, and ecological possibilities of bringing one of Aotearoa’s most iconic extinct birds back to life.
In this talk, Canterbury Museum Senior Curator Natural History Paul Scofield will take you through his involvement in this groundbreaking project.
Combining ancient DNA research, modern genomic tools, and collaboration with iwi and conservation experts, the project investigates what we can learn about moa biology, how their traits might be reconstructed, and what role such work could play in understanding past ecosystems. While true de-extinction remains a long-term and highly complex challenge, the research is already offering new insights into biodiversity, extinction processes, and the future of conservation science in New Zealand.
A Friends of the Canterbury Museum talk.