Part 6/8:
An exploration into ancient caves reveals insights about the extinct moa—a large, flightless relative of the kiwi. These bones have provided critical information about the history of these avian species in New Zealand.
Surprisingly, genetic studies suggest that kiwis and moas are not closely related; rather, tans that moas descended from ancestors capable of flight. New Zealand's isolation allowed these birds to adapt uniquely, leading to the kiwi becoming nocturnal and ultimately flightless.