The Moa Resurrection Project

Scientists and entrepreneurs are exploring the possibility of resurrecting the mighty Moa, a giant flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand before its extinction centuries ago. A collaboration between the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, U.S.-based Colossal Biosciences, and filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson aims to reconstruct the Moa's genome using fragments of ancient DNA combined with that of its closest living relatives, such as the Kiwi siliconhi... +4.

Commentary

While I admit the idea of seeing a living Moa is deeply tempting, I must question its purpose, its risks, and its priority.

If the goal is simply to satisfy curiosity, then it borders on childish folly. Such a creature would likely end up in a zoo, paraded as a freak, with people paying a fortune to witness a spectacle devoid of meaning. If there's a deeper, clearly articulated benefit—educational, ecological, or scientific—then teach me. Convince me.

The risks are unknown. Perhaps nothing will happen. Or perhaps genetic manipulation will unleash a new pandemic, extinguishing life on this planet. They won't recreate the Moa—they'll engineer a grotesque hybrid by tampering with the Kiwi's genome. It's absurd.

Humanity faces far more urgent challenges: deforestation, poverty, hunger, disease. The immense cost of this ethically questionable and pseudoscientific endeavor could instead feed millions, save lives, and restore vast hectares of forest and mangrove ecosystems.

My opinion is clear: rather than erecting another monument to human vanity, unproductive curiosity, greed, and weakness—give me the resources. I will create real, measurable GOOD for people, for animals, and for Planet Earth.

References

1. Hanks, Micah. 2025. "Resurrecting the Moa: A New Deextinction Initiative Blends Māori Wisdom with Cutting-Edge Genomics to Revive a Lost Giant." The Debrief. July 8, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025 (https://thedebrief.org/resurrecting-the-moa-a-new-deextinction-initiative-blends-maori-wisdom-with-cutting-edge-genomics-to-revive-a-lost-giant/).

2. Lorek, Laura. 2025. "Colossal Aims to Resurrect Extinct Giant Moa Birds in New Zealand." SiliconHills News. July 9, 2025. Retrieved November 18, 2025 (https://www.siliconhillsnews.com/2025/07/09/colossal-aims-to-resurrect-extinct-giant-moa-birds-in-new-zealand/).

3. Colossal Biosciences. 2022. "Moa." Colossal. Retrieved November 18, 2025 (https://colossal.com/moa/).