The largest eagle ever was Haast’s eagle (Hieraaetus moorei), an extinct raptor that cast terror-inducing shadows over New Zealand’s South Island up until its extinction in 1445. This 18kg monster ...

Holly has a degree in Medical Biochemistry from the University of Leicester. Her scientific interests include genomics, personalized medicine, and bioethics.View full profile Holly has a degree in ...

The Palm House and the Waterlily House, two hulking greenhouses built in the Victorian Era, will close in 2027 for four years of major renovations. By Amelia Nierenberg Amelia Nierenberg reported from ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. Modern-day eagles are large birds, but they’re nowhere near ...

In a land without lions, wolves, or even snakes, the apex predator of this realm once had feathers. Before the first Polynesian settlers stepped onto New Zealand’s shores some 750 years ago, the ...

For centuries, hooded vultures in West Africa have lived in close association with people in towns and cities. The vultures’ dependence on scraps thrown out has grown in line with the overhunting of ...

For decades, scientists believed cool temperate rainforests were fragile ecosystems easily damaged by disturbances like fires or logging. But new research from the University of Melbourne challenges ...

Explore the real-life inspirations behind legendary creatures like mermaids, Kraken, Pouakai, dragons, unicorns, and Roc. These mythical beings may have roots in actual animals like manatees, giant ...

For a very long time, New Zealand has been referred to as a place for the birds. The archipelago had a unique environment with almost no mammals before humans arrived 700 years ago. A separate food ...

Haast’s eagle, the largest eagle ever known, once ruled New Zealand's skies, preying on giant moa. This formidable predator, potentially inspiring Māori legends, vanished due to prey loss. While other ...

“Our research had prompted a rethink of our native fauna,” said Canterbury Museum’s Dr. Paul Scofield. “Many of the species that we thought of as iconic New Zealand natives — a classic example would ...