In a cave on the North Island of New Zealand, fossils of terrestrial vertebrates were found dating back nearly a million years, an exceptional discovery for understanding what animal life was like before the arrival of humans in the region. The remains include fossil birds and frogs, including ancestral species related to the kākāpō parrot and the takahē bird, which provides information about the ancient diversity of New Zealand fauna. These fossils belong to the early Pleistocene and represent the first record of terrestrial animals of that age in New Zealand caves. Analysis suggests that many species became extinct or were replaced long before human arrival, due to natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and dramatic climate changes. The dating of the fossils was possible thanks to layers of volcanic ash present in the cave, which allows for the precise establishment of their age. This discovery offers a new perspective on the evolution and extinction of species in an isolated environment and will be fundamental for future research on the natural history of the region.
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