Dodo Bones Found in Mauritius

Dutch scientists from Leiden, representing the University's Dodo Research Team, have shared in the unique discovery of two bones , a pelvis and a leg, of the extinct flightless bird, the Dodo. These were found in the Mare aux Songes marsh on the island of Mauritius.

In the past, only single bones have been discovered. Peculiar to Mauritius, the Dodo was about one metre tall and weighed about 20kg. It died out in the late 17th century, as a result of human 'activity'.

The Leiden Natural History Museum Naturalis said that this was the first time that Dodo bones have been found in the position in which they died. A new excavation method was used, a drainage technique, which made the discovery possible. The bones lay among the remains of three giant turtles which probably got stuck in the marsh.

Definition: Human Activity
The birds were killed partly for food but mainly for sport by the islands visitors, the Dutch! The birds were pursued by the sailors and could not escape because they were flightless. Up to that point and for centuries prior to the human invasion, the Dodo had no enemies or predators so, it had no need to fly.

The Dutch certainly have a great interest in the Dodo and its mass extinction on the island of Mauritius because it was Dutch sailors, from the notorious East India Company (VOC) that perpetrated the massacre and carried out the eventual extinction of the species. So, every time the Dodo scientists from Leiden go to Maurituis, its really a bit of a guilt trip!