The process to conserve the South Island's first ever Moa footprints has begun.
A member of the public discovered the six rare imprints in a central Otago riverbed in May, and now the crucial drying out process is underway.
The prints were perfectly preserved in clay at the bottom of a river, and discovered by a tractor driver who was taking his dog for a swim.
They reveal key information not previously available to experts.
"We can get an indication of how that animal was moving in its environment," Otago Museum assistant curator Kane Fleury said.
Moa evolved in the South Island before moving north, where all fossils have been found up until now.
"These [prints] are also much much older than the footprints found up there; the ages ranging between one and 12 million years old," Fleury said.
The fossils are currently in humidity chambers, with controlled air temperature to prevent the clay from cracking
They will be on display to the public in a special conservation space at Otago Museum from mid November.
Newshub.
