Scientists Are Planning a Jurassic World-Style Rebirth for the Extinct Giant Moa

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Over three decades since “Jurassic Park” initially sent shivers down the spines of cinema enthusiasts, the concept of de-extinction continues to thrive. In theaters, “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (the seventh movie in the Jurassic series) is reigning supremely at the box office, while in reality, biotech firm Colossal Biosciences recently unveiled their latest project – the revival of New Zealand’s South Island Giant Moa.

Due to the constraints of our current technology and the natural deterioration of DNA over time, it’s highly unlikely we’ll encounter a living dinosaur that wasn’t a bird. However, creating a 12-foot tall, 500-pound bird (which are actually descendants of dinosaurs) is a feasible alternative and a real possibility.

The South Island Giant Moa was one of the biggest birds to ever live

For many millions of years, Moa birds, uniquely flightless, thrived exclusively in New Zealand. This diverse group comprised at least nine distinct species, varying significantly in size. The tiniest ones resembled a typical turkey’s size, while the largest would have overshadowed modern-day tallest birds. The most massive species, the South Island Giant Moa, reached approximately 6.5 feet in height from their backs, and with their necks extended, they could reach over 12 feet in height. Females of this species grew to such a size, while males were only about half that size.

Generally, they tended to keep their heads close to their bodies, almost horizontal, which made it simpler for them to eat from the ground. But when needed, they could stretch their long necks like a giraffe to reach the tops of tall trees for food. Their diet varied based on their species and location, encompassing a wide range of seeds, fruits, leaves, grasses, and more. They adapted to different ecological roles accordingly.

For More on De-extinction

The objective of the massive Colossal Foundation is to employ de-extinction science in an effort to preserve endangered species. This includes the technology used for cloning dire wolves, benefiting red wolves and other critically endangered animals. Furthermore, Colossal Biosciences, a pioneer in de-extinction, promises to reintroduce the dodo back into existence.

Similar to certain other birds, these creatures broke down their fibrous meals by using stones inside their stomachs. It’s estimated that giant moas could have had more than 6 pounds of rocks in their abdomens, with some stones being as big as 4 inches in diameter. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about their reproductive habits or lifestyle, since they coexisted with humans for a very short period. Moa inhabited New Zealand for approximately 5 to 10 million years before vanishing within just a century or two after human settlement.

Unlike many other large, flightless birds that retain small remnants of wings, moa were entirely wingless. They matured over a span of approximately 10 years and laid a single egg at a time. This egg was unusually thin and delicate, making it more manageable for smaller male moas to handle. Scientists speculate that the males likely incubated these eggs to minimize the risk of breakage.

Colossal wants to de-extinct the South Island Giant Moa, in partnership with the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre

In contrast to Colossal’s past ventures like the Colossal Woolly Mouse and the Colossal Dire Wolves which were solely managed by the company, the Moa project is a joint collaboration between the biotech company and the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre. Notably, this endeavor was also encouraged by the individual who created “The Lord of the Rings”.

Kyle Davis, an archaeologist at the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, guided our team on exploratory digs inside caves to examine moa bones. We’re planning supplementary exhibitions that will include sampling. Paul Scofield, a renowned Moa researcher and Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, is instrumental in these efforts. This collaboration was made possible by none other than Sir Peter Jackson, who gathered us all together for discussions. As Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, expressed to SYFY WIRE.

The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre will oversee the entire Moa Project, including the South Island Giant Moa and any future species to be conserved through biobanking. As stated by Lamm, “The Ngāi Tahu Research Center is in charge of the project, not only for the work on the South Island Giant Moa but also for subsequent species we may wish to conserve, as well as other tools and applications related to conservation.

The implication here could be that this new Moa project might proceed at a somewhat slower pace or follow a different approach compared to what Colossal has done previously. While Colossal’s extinction reversal system (de-extinction pipeline) has been set up and they’ve been working on avian species, particularly the dodo, for some time, the Moa project is still in its early phases.

To bring extinct species back to life through de-extinction, we will first collect DNA samples from ancient remains. We’ll gather as many samples as possible for better accuracy. After that, we’ll sequence these samples to create a reference genome. Then, we’ll compare this genome with closely related living species to identify essential genes. Using advanced genetic editing techniques such as multiplex gene editing, we will then modify those genes in an embryo, which will hopefully result in the resurrection of the extinct species.

Ultimately, the embryo is placed in a surrogate mother, which assumes that scientists successfully crack the code for consistently cloning birds, a challenge yet to be solved. Meanwhile, the team is actively gathering samples and decoding the DNA sequence. Lamm anticipates they will decode the South Island Giant Moa’s genome within the next year.

Lamm stated that it’s remarkable how museums and others have managed to preserve moa samples exceptionally well. There are numerous moa bones found in caves, which make ideal locations for DNA preservation due to their cold and dry conditions. Moas became extinct around 600 years ago, making the DNA we work with significantly younger than some might expect. Lamm expressed great confidence in our ability to assemble the moa’s DNA based on its relatively recent age.

Giant moa will have to live somewhere, and you might be able to see them

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The genome serves as a starting point, yet it’s just the initial step. Since Dolly the sheep was cloned in 1996, mammal cloning has been achieved successfully, but bird cloning is an entirely different challenge. This is because avian germ cells are more difficult to extract. Once scientists obtain the genome of a moa (extinct bird species), the next steps aren’t immediately clear. Solving this puzzle is currently a focus of ongoing research efforts.

Lamm pointed out that Colossal has managed to create emu primordial germ cells (PGCs) in a lab setting, suggesting they may soon reveal more breakthroughs in bird cloning. If all goes well with these advancements, animals produced from this process will require a habitat to call home. Given the significant transformations the world has undergone over the past 600 years, finding appropriate living conditions for these creatures could pose new challenges.

Kyle Davis stated that a series of evaluation procedures, including land assessments and biogeographic evaluations, will provide valuable insights for decision-making. Our island has numerous tribal land blocks at different elevations, making it quite diverse. We have access to other lands as well, which could potentially be included in the assessment stage. However, we’ll heavily rely on ecologists and their assessments to help us decide that. Our aim is to possibly establish a facility on our own tribal territories.

The Ngāi Tahu Research Centre has yet to make a decision or set a plan for this, but Lamm didn’t rule out the opportunity for you to witness moa someday. He preferred not to use the term “park,” mentioning its cinematic connotations, but discussed instead a protected setting, similar to where Colossal dire wolves are kept, and emphasized the management by the research center as well as local indigenous communities.

Lamm mentioned that visiting the South Island in New Zealand or watching Peter Jackson’s films gives one a unique sense of what New Zealand is all about. The country’s economy thrives on ecotourism, particularly in the South Island. Therefore, if travelers are going to the South Island to marvel at breathtaking landscapes that seem otherworldly and also appreciate the local ecology, which benefits the community, especially as desired by Ngāi Tahu, then we wholeheartedly endorse such endeavors,” Lamm expressed.

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2025-07-08 23:17