Until now, the largest-ever
elephant bird was described in 1894 by the British scientist C.W.
But how much of a role did humans really play in the decline of the
elephant bird? A new study raises more questions.
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Elephant bird eggs sell for up to PS66,000
In searching for more clues about the
elephant bird, Sir David investigates whether the story of its extinction can throw light on what is happening on the island today.
Here, David returns to Madagascar to see how the island has changed in the past 50 years and to search for more clues about the amazing
elephant bird, which was something like a giant ostrich, weighing half a ton.
The researchers' breakthrough also included recovery of DNA from the egg of the
elephant bird of Madagascar, New Scientist reported.
When researchers at the University of Texas at Austin recently performed a computerized tomography (CT) scan of an unbroken
elephant bird egg, they discovered a tiny, dismembered skeleton.