17 Extraordinary Animals We’ll Never Get to See Again
Extinction is one of the most profound and irreversible impacts of human interaction with the natural world. A Living Planet Report by 2024 indicates that the average size of wildlife populations has dropped by an astonishing 73% since 1970. Although there have been amazing and inspirational successes and stories about wildlife in the past, many animals are still in their endangered states because of unsustainable human-led activities.
The extinction of species is indicative of broader environmental problems. On the IUCN red list, over 41,000 species are assessed to be threatened with extinction. When a species goes extinct, the result can be cascading effects on food webs and ecosystem changes that may not have been anticipated. Read on to learn more about the extraordinary animals lost to extinction and the stories they left behind.
The Dodo
The Dodo was a flightless bird native only to Mauritius. It became extinct in the late 1600s due to overhunting and the introduction of non-native species, such as rats and pigs. The birds did not show fear towards humans, making them easy targets.
According to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Dodo weighed about three feet tall and 15 to 20 pounds. The human colonization of their habitat further worsened their chances of survival.
Passenger Pigeon
According to the Smithsonian Institution, once numbering in the billions across North America, the Passenger Pigeon succumbed to overhunting and habitat destruction. The wild population was decimated by large-scale commercial hunting during the 19th century.
Wild Passenger Pigeons were rarely seen in the late 1800s. The last known individual, a female named Martha, died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. This species warns of the ramifications of unregulated wildlife exploitation.
Tasmanian Tiger
National Museum of Australia highlights that the Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine, was a carnivorous marsupial native to Tasmania in Australia and New Guinea. Habitat loss, competition with introduced species such as dogs, and extremely aggressive hunting campaigns brought it to extinction.
The last known Thylacine died in captivity in 1936 at the Hobart Zoo. Due to poor genetic diversity, the species was already vulnerable even before human interference. Cloning this species as a de-extinction method is ongoing but largely uncertain.
Great Auk
The Great Auk, a large flightless bird once found across the North Atlantic, became extinct in the mid-19th century. The bird was extensively hunted for its feathers, meat, and eggs.
Only small colonies remained on isolated islands in the early 1800s. According to the National Geographic Society, the last known pair was killed off the coast of Iceland in 1844. The Great Auk symbolizes the dangers of overexploitation of natural resources.
Pyrenean Ibex
The Pyrenean Ibex was a wild goat originally native to the Pyrenees mountains. In 2000, it was declared extinct because Celia, the last of its kind, died. It experienced a serious decline owing to overhunting and competition with domestic livestock.
Due to small population sizes, the species suffered from inbreeding. In 2003, scientists revived this species through cloning for a very short period, during which the clone died shortly after birth.
Baiji Dolphin
The Baiji is a freshwater dolphin native to the Yangtze River in China. It was declared functionally extinct in 2006. Pollution, overfishing, and habitat degradation from industrial development were major causes. No surviving individuals were found in surveys during the early 2000s, notwithstanding extensive efforts to locate them.
The decline in the Baiji reflects humans’ greater impacts on river ecosystems. Conservation groups continue to call for stronger protection of aquatic habitats in hopes of preventing similar losses.
West African Black Rhino
The West African Black Rhino is a subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros that was declared extinct in 2011. Demand in traditional medicine markets fueled poaching for its horns, which significantly contributed to its extinction.
Continuing agricultural expansion led to habitat loss. The early 2000s surveys confirmed that no living individual survived in the wild. This underlines the need for global cooperation to counteract illegal wildlife trade.
Steller’s Sea Cow
Steller’s Sea Cow is a large marine mammal discovered in the 18th century and hunted to extinction within 27 years. Due to its slow movements, it was easily captured, making the species highly susceptible. The animal was estimated to attain a length of up to 30 feet and weigh approximately 10 tons.
Wayward sailors and fur traders overharvested the population. Steller’s Sea Cow’s extinction speaks volumes about protection policies concerning vulnerable species before any case of exploitation arises.
Golden Toad
The Golden Toad, which once had a limited home in Costa Rica, vanished during the late 1980s. Climate change, disease, and habitat destruction are cited as reasons for its extinction. It has not been found in subsequent surveys taken in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve since 1989, a place where this species was considered abundant.
Amphibians, like the Golden Toad, are very sensitive to environmental changes. Its loss is a grim reminder of how human activities can have an interlinked impact on biodiversity.
Pinta Island Tortoise
The Pinta Island Tortoise was declared extinct in 2012 with the death of its last known member, Lonesome George. Native to the Galápagos Islands, the species suffered from overexploitation by whalers and sailors. Invasive species, such as goats, further degraded its habitat.
Some hybrid individuals have genes from Pinta Island, which raises hopes for genetic recovery. George remains a very strong symbol for global wildlife conservation efforts.
Caribbean Monk Seal
According to MarineBio Conservation Society, the last sighting of the Caribbean Monk Seal was in 1952, and it was declared extinct in 2008. This animal species had been badly overhunted for their oil, and their prey had been overfished.
Habitat disturbance due to human activities was also a cause for their disappearance. They were relentlessly targeted commercially. Protection of the remaining monk seal species is essential to avoid further loss.
Spix’s Macaw
Spix’s Macaw is a bright blue parrot from Brazil that was declared extinct in the wild in 2000, although some captive birds still exist. Principal causes included habitat loss due to deforestation and trapping for the pet trade.
Captive breeding efforts have been encouraging, with reintroduction programs contemplated. Approximately 360 Spix’s macaws are in captivity worldwide, with 46 in Curaca. The Spix’s Macaw inspired the animated movie Rio and brought worldwide attention to the plight of endangered parrots.
Japanese Sea Lion
The Japanese Sea Lion, once found in the waters surrounding Japan, was declared extinct in the 1950s. Overhunting throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries depleted its population.
The animals were hunted for oil, fur, and traditional medicines. Pollution and coastal developments further reduced their habitat. It is essential to protect similar species currently living in Japanese waters.
Quagga
The Quagga, a subspecies of the Plains Zebra, went extinct in the late 19th century. It was hunted for meat and hides and also because it competed with livestock. Although genetically distinct, the Quagga was closely related to other zebras.
The Quagga Project reports that the last known individual died at Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam in 1883. Conservation programs aim to breed zebras to revive some Quagga-like traits selectively.
Heath Hen
The Heath Hen is a type of grouse native to North America. It was last seen in 1932. Its population was reduced to a small size because of habitat destruction due to agricultural development. Hunting then hastened its extinction.
Conservation efforts started in the early 20th century, but it was too late to save the species. The Heath Hen is often cited as an example of the need for proactive conservation measures.
Moa
Moa were giant, flightless birds of New Zealand that went extinct in about 600 years ago due to excessive hunting by early Polynesian settlers, according to the National Museum of Ireland. Some species of Moa reached as tall as 12 feet and weighed over 500 pounds.
The arrival of humans disrupted their ecosystem and led to rapid population collapse. The extinction of Moa also impacted their natural predators, like the Haast’s Eagle.
Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle
The EDGE of Existence reports that the Yangtze Giant Softshell Turtle is considered functionally extinct, given that only three confirmed individuals are in captivity. Its population is severely devastated due to habitat destruction, pollution, and hunting.
No other wild individuals have been recorded during surveys done in recent years. Conservationists are working to breed the remaining turtles with little success so far. This species is among the most pressing cases regarding loss in freshwater biodiversity.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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