Colossal Biosciences Acquires Rare Moa Egg and Will Return It to New Zealand

One of only a handful of complete or near-complete moa shells known to exist will be handed to Māori historian Professor Te Maire Tau, as Colossal says Indigenous leadership guides its moa program.

The moa egg is going home. Colossal Biosciences has acquired a rare moa egg, one of only a handful of complete or near-complete shells known to exist, and will return it to New Zealand, where it will be handed to Professor Te Maire Tau, a Māori historian and tribal leader in the Canterbury region. The egg was discovered in 1966 and spent roughly six decades in a private American collection before Colossal purchased it at auction in June.

Colossal says the return reflects its commitment that Indigenous leadership guide the moa program. Ngāi Tahu researchers will direct the reattachment of remaining fragments, and eggshells help scientists recover ancient DNA and understand how moa nested. Peter Jackson, who is partnering with the Ngāi Tahu Research Center and Canterbury Museum on the program, said the restored egg will very likely become only the ninth known nearly intact moa egg.

This story is based on original reporting by Ainsley Thomson for Bloomberg. Read the full feature on Bloomberg → https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-19/biotech-firm-colossal-set-to-return-extinct-bird-s-egg-to-new-zealand