“Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson is funding a project to restore the extinct moa bird
Director Peter Jackson, who became famous thanks to the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, decided to realize his long-standing passion for the restoration of the extinct moa bird as part of a large-scale scientific project. The initiative will be coordinated by Māori scholars from the Ngāi Tahu Research Center at the University of Canterbury, informs AP.
Jackson, who owns one of the most famous private collections of moa bones, has joined forces with Colossal Biosciences. Together with partner Fran Walsh, he has invested $15 million in research that aims to use genetic technology to create birds similar to the South Island’s giant moa, a creature up to 3.6 meters tall.
Ngāi Tahu archaeologist Kyle Davies, who specializes in moa bones, said the project had rekindled interest in Maori mythology and cultural heritage. Davis and Jackson recently visited the famous archaeological site of Pyramid Valley. Among the remains of moa found there are also rock paintings created by Maori before the extinction of the species some 600 years ago due to intensive hunting.
Paul Scofield, senior curator of natural history at the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch and one of the project’s consultants, recalled his first meeting with Jackson, when the director invited him to identify which of the nine known species the bones in his collection belonged to.
“He doesn’t just collect a few moa bones – he has a whole collection”, – noted Scofield.
Researchers are now in the process of sequencing the DNA from the best-preserved bones to compare it with the genomes of modern birds such as emu and tinamu, and identify the genes responsible for the moa’s distinctive features. Management of the project by Māori scientists will ensure it is aligned with traditional knowledge and indigenous approaches to ecological restoration.
Photo: apnews.com
