In January 1987, explorers deep inside a remote New Zealand cave uncovered something extraordinary:

In January 1987, explorers deep inside a remote New Zealand cave uncovered something extraordinary:

the mummified claw of an upland moa, so perfectly preserved it still had muscle, skin, and sinew intact.

This flightless bird was believed to have vanished around 600 years ago after humans arrived and hunted it to extinction.

Yet the claw’s pristine condition has fueled speculation, with some wondering if these birds survived in isolated regions longer than previously thought.