Polynesians arrived sometime before 1300, and all moa genera were soon driven to extinction by hunting and, to a lesser extent, by habitat reduction due to forest clearance. By 1445, all moa had become extinct, along with Haast's eagle, which had relied on them for food.

When did the moa become extinct?

Moa likely became extinct sometime between 1440-1445 AD, according to a new study from University of Auckland and Landcare Research scientists.

What was the predator of the moa?

The Haast's eagle (Harpagornis moorei), believed to be one of the heaviest raptors on Earth, is thought to have been the only major predator of moas until humans arrived. The species went extinct when its prey vanished.