New Zealand's Endangered Flightless Birds Find Refuge in Ancient Moa Habitats

Researchers discover that current sanctuaries for endangered birds overlap with last refuges of extinct moa species.

Study led by University of Adelaide used fossils and computer models to trace moa population dynamics.
Final moa populations were found in cold, mountainous areas now sheltering species like takahē, weka, and great spotted kiwi.
These refugia are among the least impacted by human activity, both historically and today.
Research highlights the importance of protecting remote habitats for conservation efforts.
Findings offer new methods for understanding past extinctions on islands with limited data.