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Story: West Coast places

Bird skeleton, Ōpārara caves

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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.

Using this item

Private collection

by Simon Nathan

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, West Coast places – Karamea, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20952/bird-skeleton-oparara-caves (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 3 March 2009.