![]() Otago Museum director Ian Griffin said the footprints could be up to 12 million years old. Moa footprints have been found in at least 10 areas on the North Island, with at least 25 footprints recorded or extracted.Įach footprint is approximately 30 centimetres by 30 centimetres wide. "The last major flood event on the Kyeburn was in November 2018 and it's likely the event eroded the bank and exposed the clay slab containing the prints," said Otago Museum assistant curator of Natural Science, Kane Fleury. Mr Johnston's incredible discovery was aided by recent wet weather in the area. They are the first reported footprints of the extinct, flightless bird on the South Island.Īn artist's impression of a pair of giant New Zealand moa being attacked by a raptor. The Otago Museum described the imprints as an "astonishing preservation" of tracks made by a moa. (Ian Griffin/Otago Museum)Ī New Zealand tractor driver has stumbled along an "astonishing" paleontological find while taking his dogs for a swim at a river on the country's South Island.Īfter noticing some strange markings in the clay in the Kyeburn River in March, local resident Michael Johnston alerted the Otago Museum of his discovery via a Facebook message.ĭays later, experts from the museum dove into the river, finding seven moa footprints in the hard clay of the river, under a metre of water. ![]() Tractor driver Michael Johnston discovered the footprints in March. New Zealand man discovers ancient moa footprints while taking dogs for a swim
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