A biotech company based in the United States, says it will attempt to bring back the South Island giant moa (Dinornis robustus), a towering flightless bird that went extinct in New Zealand around 600 years ago, in a de-extinction effort. The company, Colossal Biosciences, announced the project on July 8, describing it as part of its broader mission to restore extinct species.
The South Island giant moa was the largest of nine known moa species and could grow up to 12 feet tall. Scientists believe the birds disappeared after early human settlers overhunted them.
Colossal says it aims to recreate the moa and return it to a protected ecosystem within the next decade, working in partnership with Indigenous groups and genetic researchers.
Scientists say revived bird won’t be a true moa
Experts have raised concerns about how the company is presenting the project. Many say the recreated animal will not be a true moa but a modified version using DNA from modern birds. Critics argue that without the exact genetic makeup and natural environment, the result will only be a partial likeness of the original bird.
Today we announce a new Colossal de-extinction project: the legendary moa of New Zealand. This new de-extinction initiative, coordinated by the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, brings the return of this legendary bird closer to reality.
Hope is taking flight, even if these birds… pic.twitter.com/jUzYlBXyYY
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) July 8, 2025
“There is no current genetic engineering pathway that can truly restore a lost species,” said Philip Seddon, professor of zoology at the University of Otago. “Any end result will not, cannot be, a moa—a unique treasure created through millennia of adaptation and change.”
The company’s earlier dire wolf claim drew similar doubts
Colossal faced similar criticism in April when it claimed to have brought back the dire wolf, an Ice Age predator. Scientists dismissed the claim, saying the animal was a gray wolf with about 20 genetic changes.
NEW PROJECT: We’re working to bring back the South Island giant moa, one of the largest birds to walk the Earth. Gone for 600 years, its legacy still echoes. From ancient DNA to artificial eggs, this project could reshape the future of bird conservation. pic.twitter.com/t6V9YGdlkc
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) July 9, 2025
Beth Shapiro, the company’s chief scientist, later confirmed this in an interview with New Scientist, saying it is not possible to recreate an extinct species fully. Still, when contacted by Live Science, a company spokesperson stood by the original claim, continuing to refer to the animal as a revived dire wolf.
DNA editing process relies on moa relatives
To recreate the moa, scientists plan to extract DNA from preserved moa bones and compare it to that of living birds. Shapiro explained that the team will use emus and tinamous—two birds closely related to the moa—as genetic templates. They will attempt to insert key moa traits into one of these species.
Oh wow: the company that brought back the "dire wolf" — emphasis on the quotations there — is going to try to revive the moa, the dinosaur-like bird from New Zealand that the Māori hunted to extinction in the 1400s. pic.twitter.com/XSCtwae1fF
— Alexander C. Kaufman (@AlexCKaufman) July 10, 2025
Modified cells would then be implanted into a surrogate bird to develop naturally. Colossal says any hatchlings will be raised in fenced nature reserves, not zoos or open wild environments.
Experts question safety and transparency
Trevor Worthy, a paleontologist at Flinders University in Australia, said using emus and tinamous makes sense scientifically. But he also warned that if one of the recreated birds escapes and is startled, it could react with a powerful kick.
“Moas wouldn’t see humans as a threat, unless perhaps you tried to hug it, and in scaring it likely you would get kicked and quite likely, badly hurt,” Worthy said.
Conservation benefits are possible, but ethical concerns linger
Colossal argues the project could lead to broader conservation tools, such as artificial eggs that may help endangered birds. Worthy agreed that the research may reveal valuable insights into extinct species’ evolution and genetic history.
Still, some scientists remain skeptical. Stuart Pimm, a conservation ecologist at Duke University, criticized the idea of creating animals that merely resemble extinct species. This is “straight out of Frankenstein,” he explained, warning that appearance alone doesn’t make an animal truly restored.
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