Rich volcanic soils nourished a forest of giant palms that was home to many unique species

Including Easter Island versions of herons parrots rails and owls

Today they are all gone

The people ultimately didn't do much better

The rise and tragic demise of the Easter Islanders the Rapa Nui is now legendary

This quarry once occupied the majority of the island's workforce thousands of people

With each clan trying to carve and raise a bigger grander figure than those of their neighbours

Vast amounts of timber would have been required to transport and erect the giant moai and slowly but surely the forests vanished

Eventually there was no wood left even to build boats

Without fishing boats they would have been denied their main source of food and their one means of escape

As resources dwindled Easter Island society descended into chaos and warfare

The giant statues were pulled to the ground possibly acts of sabotage between rival clans