Peter Jackson: Reviving Extinct Giant Bird | Moa Project
# Peter Jackson and Colossal Biosciences Are Bringing Back the Moa, the Largest Bird to Ever Live
Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction company behind efforts to resurrect the woolly mammoth, has set it’s sights on an even more enterprising goal: bringing back the Moa, the largest bird to ever walk the Earth. partnering with director Peter Jackson and with the full support of the Māori people of New Zealand, this project represents a significant leap forward in the field of genetic engineering and conservation.
## The Moa: A Giant Lost to Time
The Moa, a flightless bird endemic to New Zealand, was a truly remarkable creature. Several species existed, with the largest, the Giant Moa ( *Dinornis robustus*), reaching heights of up to 13 feet and weighing around 500 pounds. These gentle giants roamed New Zealand for centuries, playing a vital role in the island’s ecosystem.Sadly, they were hunted to extinction by the Māori between 1300 and 1400 AD.
The loss of the Moa had a profound impact on New Zealand’s surroundings, and its return could offer significant ecological benefits.Beyond the scientific achievement, the project holds deep cultural meaning for the Māori, who view the Moa as a taonga (treasure) and an integral part of thier history and identity.
## How De-Extinction Works and the Role of Colossal Biosciences
Colossal Biosciences utilizes advanced genetic engineering techniques, primarily CRISPR gene editing, to attempt to resurrect extinct species. The process isn’t about creating a perfect clone, but rather about using the genetic details from preserved remains to edit the genome of a closely related living species. In the case of the Moa, the team is focusing on the genomes of modern birds, notably the Emu, to introduce Moa traits.
“Based on Colossal establishing our avian genomics group to work on the dodo a few years back, we had built the core specialized lab infrastructure, team and started solving the adaptation of our de-extinction mammalian work flows to birds,” explains Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences.”At Colossal, we like to parallel path as much as possible so while we are working on sampling various Moa bones to collect ancient DNA for sampling, we are also working on reference genomes for some of the Moa’s closest living relatives and developing culture conditions to eventually start editing. We also have samples we have taken from Moa currently being sequenced as well.”
## The Partnership with Peter Jackson and Māori Collaboration
The involvement of Peter Jackson, renowned for his work on *The Lord of the Rings* and *King Kong*, brings not only financial backing but also a deep understanding of bringing fantastical creatures to life.Jackson’s commitment to authenticity and detail is proving invaluable to the project.
However, the success of the Moa de-extinction project hinges on a crucial partnership: collaboration with the Ngāi Tahu, the principal Māori iwi (tribe) of the South Island of New zealand, where many moa remains have been found. Jackson facilitated these initial meetings, recognizing the importance of Māori leadership and consent.
“Peter helped facilitate those meetings with the Ngāi Tahu and introduced us to the world’s leading Moa expert, Paul Scofield,” Lamm recounts. “The project really felt like it all just organically came together.” This collaboration ensures that the Moa’s return is not just a scientific endeavor, but a culturally sensitive and respectful process. The Māori will play a central role in determining where and how the Moa will be reintroduced, ensuring its integration into the ecosystem and cultural landscape.
## The Future of the Moa and the Inspiration for a New Generation
While the de-extinction process is