The flightless elephant birds of Madagascar, Vorombe titan, have not been a lucky species. Relentless human interference resulted in the extinction of the species in the 17th century. Weighing 1,000 pounds and standing nearly 10 feet tall, the bird’s designation as the largest bird to roam the earth was challenged by the discovery of Dromornis stirtoni, an unrelated Australian giant that vanished over 20,000 years ago. After heavy debate and some recent revelations, however, the vegetarian elephant bird’s title as the largest has been restored. The bird had four species across three genera — Mullerornis, Vorombe, and Aepyornis. While their geographical proximity is closer to the ostrich, their closest known relative is actually the kiwi.
