16 Nov 2021

Were Moa and people co-existing on Rakiura Stewart island?

From Afternoons, 1:40 pm on 16 November 2021

Humans and moa may have co-existed on Rakiura Stewart island, according to some new research from the University of Otago and the Department of Conservation. 

The research was undertaken after the discovery of the bird's skeleton on the island last March by DOC ranger Phred Dobbins.

Dr Nic Rawlence, director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory and research paper co-author talks to Jesse about what they've discovered. 

Dr Nic Rawlence with gizzard stones and the shin bone (partial right tibiotarsus) of a subadult South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus). A small portion was used for radiocarbon dating (to determine how old the specimen is) and ancient DNA (to confirm its identification to a moa species).

Photo: University of Otago