Elephant birds (Aepyornis maximus), artwork. This extinct flightless bird lived in Madagascar until around the 16th century. It stood over 3 metres tall and weighed 450 kilograms. Archaeological evidence shows elephant birds were hunted by humans for their meat and eggs which, together with climate change and the impact of rats and dogs, led to their eventual extinction. Elephant bird eggs are the largest eggs that ever existed. They measured up to 88 centimetres in circumference and could hold a volume of 9 litres.