Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) Egg

This 3D printable Great Auk egg is a replica of an artifact from one of history’s most infamous extinctions. The Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) was a large, flightless seabird that once bred in dense colonies along the North Atlantic. Hunted relentlessly for meat, oil, and feathers—and later, their eggs and specimens—the species was wiped out by the mid-1800s. Only a few preserved eggs remain in museums and private collections today, often cracked and heavily faded. By the time people realized human-caused extinction was possible, it was already too late for the Great Auk. The last confirmed specimens were killed on Eldey Island, Iceland in 1844.

Its extinction forced a revelation: humans weren’t just witnesses to loss of species — we were also the cause.

This free digital STL file captures the size and proportions of a real Great Auk egg, making it perfect for educational displays, artistic interpretations, or just as a haunting reminder of what we’ve lost. It’s ready for you to print and paint.

The files are packaged in a .zip archive and scaled to life-size: around 12.4 cm long, 7.6cm wide with a tapered shape characteristic of seabird eggs. We also include the file for a stand to display the egg.