Scientists Want to Bring Giant Bird Back From Extinction

Lesson made on July 15, 2025

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Reading Lesson:

The giant moa was the tallest bird to ever live. It was more than 3 meters tall and lived in New Zealand for thousands of years. The moa could not fly and ate plants. It disappeared around 600 years ago, shortly after humans arrived. Today, we only know about it from old stories, bones, and a few feathers.

Now, a US company called Colossal Biosciences says it wants to bring the moa back. They also plan to bring back other extinct animals, like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the Tasmanian tiger. The company hopes to recreate a moa using DNA from bones and by changing the genes of birds like the emu, which is a close relative. The plan is to hatch these birds and let them live in safe areas.

Experts say bringing back extinct animals is very hard and might not even be possible. They also worry that the world has changed too much for these animals to live in the wild again. Others say we should focus on protecting animals that are still alive, instead of spending money on trying to bring back ones that are gone.

One scientist said that even if a bird looks like a moa, it won’t act like one, because behavior is something animals learn. Another said this is more like a science experiment than truly bringing a species back. Most scientists agree that we can’t truly bring back extinct animals. We might be able to create animals that look similar, but they won’t be exactly the same as before.

Comprehension Quiz:

1. What is the main idea of the article?

a) New Zealand is building a zoo for extinct animals.
b) The moa was a dangerous bird that attacked humans.
c) New Zealand is the best place for extinct animals to live.
d) A company wants to bring back the giant moa and other extinct animals.

2. What does the word “extinct” mean?

a) No longer living anywhere
b) Living in only one place
c) Very dangerous
d) Sleeping for a long time

3. Colossal Biosciences wants to recreate a moa using DNA from bones. What does “recreate” mean?

a) Go on an exciting trip to where moas lived
b) Make something that is similar to the original
c) Break the bones into small pieces
d) Paint a picture of the moa

4. Which of these statements is false?

a) All scientists support bringing back extinct animals
b) Moas lived in New Zealand long ago
c) The moa disappeared after humans arrived in New Zealand.
d) Colossal Biosciences wants to use DNA to create new animals

5. Why do some scientists disagree with bringing back extinct animals?

a) Because it is too easy and will not cost money.
b) Because the animals will not behave the same way as before.
c) Because they want to bring back dinosaurs instead.
d) Because the moa was a dangerous predator.

6. What is the main reason some people want to bring back the moa?

a) To study how it behaves in labs.
b) To replace modern birds like chickens.
c) To see if science can recreate extinct animals.
d) To make New Zealand more dangerous.

7. What effect do humans have on animals?

a) Humans always help animals survive.
b) Humans sometimes cause animals to go extinct.
c) Humans never change the environment.
d) Humans cannot affect birds.

8. What would happen if a new moa did not act like the original moa?

a) It would not survive in the wild.
b) It would learn to fly.
c) It would become a predator.
d) It would grow smaller.

9. If scientists succeed in bringing back the moa, what will most likely happen next?

a) The moa will take over the world.
b) All other birds will disappear.
c) The moa will learn to fly.
d) People will debate whether it is ethical.

10. What does the article suggest about Colossal Biosciences’ plan?

a) Everyone agrees it is a perfect idea.
b) It is impossible and will never work.
c) Some scientists support it, but others have doubts.
d) It will definitely bring back the moa exactly as it was.

Speaking and Writing Activities:

– Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.

– Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.

1. Do you think bringing back extinct animals is a good idea? Why or why not?

2. If you could bring back any extinct animal, which one would you choose and why?

3. Have you ever seen the movie Jurassic Park? Describe what happens in the movie.

More Reading Practice:

Moa

A moa was a very large bird that lived in New Zealand a long time ago. It could not fly, and some types of moa were over three meters tall. Moas ate plants and walked on two strong legs. They had long necks and small heads. People believe there were about nine different kinds of moa.

Moas are now extinct. That means there are no more of them alive today. Scientists think people hunted moas and destroyed the forests where they lived. This is probably why they disappeared. Today, we can still find moa bones and a few feathers. Scientists study these to learn more about the bird.

Colossal Biosciences

Colossal Biosciences is a company in the United States. It is working on new science to bring back animals that are extinct. This means animals that died out and no longer live on Earth. The company uses special tools to study animal DNA. DNA is like a set of instructions that tells how a living thing is made.

Colossal Biosciences wants to use DNA from extinct animals and mix it with DNA from animals that are alive today. They hope this can help them recreate animals that disappeared long ago. For example, they are trying to bring back the woolly mammoth, a big, furry animal that lived in cold places. They are also interested in the dodo, the Tasmanian tiger, and the giant moa.

Some people think this work is exciting and could help nature. Others think it could be dangerous or confusing. But Colossal Biosciences says they want to help the planet by bringing back lost animals and protecting the environment.


Images of Moa

Colossal Biosciences website

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