Premiere Film Screening of Mystery of the Giant Birds

The Mystery of the Giant Birds, a captivating documentary about the colossal, flightless birds of Madagascar and New Zealand, will premiere at the Tūhura Otago Museum's Perpetual Guardian Planetarium on Wednesday, 9 April at 5:30 pm. This exciting screening is a part of the Wild Dunedin – NZ Festival of Nature, an annual celebration of the natural world and scientific discovery.

The film explores the remarkable story of the elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of Aotearoa—some of the largest birds ever to roam the Earth. Some of these supersized, flightless creatures, weighed up to 800 kilos and stood nearly four metres tall, were uniquely adapted to their island environments. But how did these giant birds reach such remote locations? The documentary unpacks this mystery, guided by groundbreaking fossil discoveries and cutting-edge genetic research that offers new insights into the evolution of these enigmatic animals.

As part of this exclusive premiere, attendees will have the rare opportunity to hear directly from Associate Professor Nic Rawlence, an expert in ancient DNA and palaeontology, and Kane Fleury, the Head of Natural Science Collections at Tūhura Otago Museum. Both contributed significantly to the film. The Museum's Collections team also assisted with 3D scanning, collection access, and exclusive footage featured in the documentary. Associate Professor Rawlence, whose research on moa helped shape the film's narrative, is eager for the public to experience this unique project.

"This film brings together the incredible biological heritage of these remarkable birds," said Associate Professor Rawlence. "I'm excited for people to see it, especially in the Museum's planetarium, where the film can inspire awe in kids young and old about the remarkable and evolutionarily unique creatures that once walked Aotearoa. It's a fantastic opportunity for the community to engage with our country's natural heritage."

The film's director, Bertrand Loyer of Saint Thomas Productions, expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting the special connection made with New Zealand's researchers. "Working on this film was a fantastic experience, and collaborating with the world-leading experts at Tūhura Otago Museum was truly rewarding. It's wonderful to share this incredible story about New Zealand and the larger-than-life moa with audiences."