Story: West Coast places

Bird skeleton, Ōpārara caves (3rd of 3)

Bird skeleton, Ōpārara caves

Because the Ōpārara cave system has so many openings, large birds have wandered in, perhaps to shelter, or have fallen in. The caves have acted as a graveyard, and contain the skeletons of moa and other animals, some of which became extinct soon after the arrival of humans in New Zealand. This is the skeleton of a little bush moa.

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Private collection
Photograph by Simon Nathan

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan, 'West Coast places - Karamea', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20952/bird-skeleton-oparara-caves (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan