Huge Haast eagle replica foot talon claw raptor dinosaur fossil bird finished

Description

This is a sculpted reproduction right foot of the extinct Haast's eagle, which was the largest and most powerful eagle that ever lived. It weighed up to 35 pounds with a ten foot wingspan, and had huge, robust feet and talons. This reproduction has been scaled to match the exact size of the original fossil skeletal material so it is life-sized. The Haast eagle lived in New Zealand and preyed upon moas, which were giant flightless ostrich-like birds that weighed up to 450 pounds. It was the apex predator of the island, as there were no large predatory mammals as is usually the case on most continents. The Haast eagle is believed to have gone extinct around 700 years ago. Its extinction was brought about by the arrival of humans who decimated the eagle's natural prey. There is no direct evidence that the Haast ever hunted and killed humans, but some scientists believe that it easily could have taken human prey. The early human settlers of its territory were well aware of the eagle, and they depicted it in rock art and also used its bones for making tools. The Haast had the power to kill an animal the size of a small horse (the moa) by driving its talons deep into the bones, so it isn't hard to imagine this giant raptor ambushing and killing an unarmed human.
The foot measures 10 3/4" (27cm) long and and 5 1/4" (14cm) across, as measured in a straight line. The longest talon is 3.5" (9cm) long as measured over the outside curve. This cast has been finished and painted to match the typical coloration of the feet of a bird of prey.
This is a solid urethane cast that can be drilled, sanded and machined. I also have unpainted feet available in a separate listing if you prefer to do your own paint job. Please allow up to three days for this item to be cast and painted. Last picture is of the unpainted foot shown for scale.
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