A giant Moa photographed in April 2012 while on a two week holiday to the north island of New Zealand. This reconstructed specimen was in the Mercury Bay museum in Whitianga.

A recent scientific study seems to show that the Moa adapted to changes in climate for tens of thousands of years. The extinction of the species was most likely connected to the arrival of the Maori about 800 years ago. Human hunting and habitat destruction lead to the decline and ultimate extinction of the species.

Image used in the article How New Zealand’s megabirds survived climate change by Alasdair Wilkins (Aug 5, 2012 2:00 PM).

Background info - University of Adelaide media release # August 2012 - Giant moa had climate change figured out.