The fact that people on here are even referencing "noble savage", an incredibly racist and colonial framing of indigenous peoples *face palm*. This article is based on cherry picking facts and ignoring others. Taking a snapshot of Maori resource management practices right when they arrived ignores the next 800 to 1000 years spent developing an intricate framework of values and practices honed to steward the environment in a sustainable way https://teara.govt.nz/en/kaitiakitanga-guardianship-and-conservation
Thanks for putting me on to "future eaters" though, it's an amazing book, sweeping in its scope and ambition, I found fascinating the difference between areas of the world where the flora and fauna developed in tight coupling with humans vs. Where humans just showed up much later. I did notice that many other scientists have criticized the book for filling in evidence gaps with conjecture, especially as it goes further back in prehistory. It'd be interesting to see an updated version, I believe great strides in archeology and paleontology have been made since the time of writing.

So interesting how the kiwi has the most outsized egg of any bird because it evolved from the moa, but ironically that big tough egg probably saved it from the rats!