Scientists established that Elephant birds lived on on Lanzarote four million years ago

Scientists have established that the aepyornis, or elephant bird – one of the largest birds ever to exist – lived on Lanzarote four million years ago.

Around six years ago, palaeontologists discovered what they believed were ostrich eggs in the north of Lanzarote. However, lead scientist Antonio Sánchez now claims that they belonged to a species of aepyornis, a much larger bird that is extinct.

Sánchez also believes he has solved the mystery of how the large flightless birds reached Lanzarote, which has never been connected to mainland Africa: “They swam,” he says. “There’s no other possibility, and ostriches, emus and other ratites are good swimmers.”