Sculpted reproduction right foot of the extinct Pouākai | Haast's eagle.
Laminated images of Sir Julius Haast, images of the pouākai (models, art works), images of pouākai skeleton
The pouākai was the largest and most powerful eagle that ever lived, found only in Aotearoa New Zealand. It weighed up to 17 kilograms, and had a wingspan of up to 3 metres.
The Pouākai | Haast eagle lived in New Zealand and preyed upon moa, which were giant flightless birds. Its short, stout legs and feet were exceptionally strong and its claws were huge. To kill moa, the eagle would first land on it, then rip open its back to reach its kidneys.
The Pouākai | Haast eagle became extinct about 700 years ago due to the arrival of humans who likely hunted its natural prey to extinction.
Remains of the eagle have been found at more than fifty South Island fossil sites, mainly in drier eastern areas.
A few prehistoric rock drawings depict the eagle and eagle remains have been found in early middens.
The name 'Haast's eagle' is named after Sir Julius von Haast (1 May 1822 – 16 August 1887), a German-born New Zealand explorer, geologist, and founder of the Canterbury Museum in Ōtautahi | Christchurch. Haast was the first European to study the bones of the extinct Haast's eagle.
Read more about the pouākai | Haast's Eagle here
> https://www.wingspan.co.nz/extinct_birds_of_prey_new_zealand_haasts_eagle.html
> https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/1360
> https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/terror-of-the-forest/
Watch this video 'Pouākai- the Haast Eagle' from Frank Stories of the South
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTU76_gQeQc
Watch this video 'Making the Haast Eagle, Pouākai' from Te Papa
date: Replica, created 2024
Dimensions: 27cm length, 14 cm wide
Manufacturer: Carnefx, USA
Materials: solid urethane resin
subject area: Social Science, Science, Te Ao Māori
subject themes: Biology, Te Taiao, Environment, Aotearoa, New Zealand, History, Animals, Birds
handling collection number: HC24
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