Recently Extinct Recently Extinct AnimalsAnimals

Tasmanian tiger-wolfTasmanian tiger-wolf

Tasmanian tiger-wolf is an extinct Tasmanian tiger-wolf is an extinct wolf like carnivorous marsupial of wolf like carnivorous marsupial of Tasmania having stripes on its Tasmania having stripes on its back. Despite its name, this animal back. Despite its name, this animal is neither a tiger nor a wolf and it is is neither a tiger nor a wolf and it is closely related to the kangaroo. It closely related to the kangaroo. It had a pouch for its babies to climb had a pouch for its babies to climb in. It became extinct because of in. It became extinct because of the activities of human being in the activities of human being in 1936.1936.

DodoDodo

Dodo birds lived only on the island of Dodo birds lived only on the island of Mauritius. An adult Dodo was about 1 Mauritius. An adult Dodo was about 1 meter long and weighed 20 kg. It was grey meter long and weighed 20 kg. It was grey and had small wings. Dodo birds were not and had small wings. Dodo birds were not good to eat. Their meat was very tough.good to eat. Their meat was very tough.

The extinction of the Dodo bird was The extinction of the Dodo bird was complete by the end of the 17complete by the end of the 17thth century. century. No one knows exactly why it died out, but No one knows exactly why it died out, but hunting, habitat loss, and competition with hunting, habitat loss, and competition with introduced animals such as pigs and introduced animals such as pigs and monkeys combined to doom the species.monkeys combined to doom the species.

Passenger pigeonPassenger pigeon

Passenger Pigeon or Wild Pigeon existed in Passenger Pigeon or Wild Pigeon existed in North America and lived in enormous migratory North America and lived in enormous migratory flocks. Some scientists say that there were 3 flocks. Some scientists say that there were 3 billion to 5 billion passenger pigeons on the billion to 5 billion passenger pigeons on the territory of US when Europeans arrived in North territory of US when Europeans arrived in North America.America.

Passenger Pigeon was about 40 cm long and Passenger Pigeon was about 40 cm long and weighed about 400 grams. It was a very social weighed about 400 grams. It was a very social bird. It lived in colonies stretching over hundreds bird. It lived in colonies stretching over hundreds of square miles. There were up to a hundred of square miles. There were up to a hundred nests in a single tree.nests in a single tree.

It became extinct because of unregulated It became extinct because of unregulated hunting (its meat was a cheap food for slaves hunting (its meat was a cheap food for slaves and the poor in the 19and the poor in the 19thth century) and loss of century) and loss of habitat. habitat.

QuaggaQuagga

The quagga is an extinct The quagga is an extinct subspecies of the zebra which subspecies of the zebra which was found in great numbers in was found in great numbers in South Africa. It was hunted to South Africa. It was hunted to extinction for meat, hides, and to extinction for meat, hides, and to preserve feed for domesticates preserve feed for domesticates stock. The last wild quagga was stock. The last wild quagga was shot in 1870s, and the last shot in 1870s, and the last specimen in captivity died in specimen in captivity died in 1883.1883.

Carolina ParakeetCarolina Parakeet

Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot Carolina Parakeet was the only parrot species native to the Eastern United species native to the Eastern United States. The last wild bird was killed in States. The last wild bird was killed in Florida in 1904. The last captive bird died Florida in 1904. The last captive bird died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918.

Reasons for extinction:Reasons for extinction:

- Large areas of forest were cut down, Large areas of forest were cut down, taking away its habitat;taking away its habitat;

- Colourful feathers of the birds were in Colourful feathers of the birds were in demand as decorations in ladies’ hats;demand as decorations in ladies’ hats;

- Farmers considered them a pest.Farmers considered them a pest.

The Bubal HartebeestThe Bubal Hartebeest

The Bubal Hartebeest was a magnificent, tough The Bubal Hartebeest was a magnificent, tough beast which was once domesticated by the beast which was once domesticated by the ancient Egyptians as a food source and for ancient Egyptians as a food source and for sacrificial purposes. The creature was even sacrificial purposes. The creature was even mentioned in the Old Testament.mentioned in the Old Testament.

Although it once roamed throughout Northern Although it once roamed throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East, the deep-rooted Africa and the Middle East, the deep-rooted mythology which surrounded the animal was not mythology which surrounded the animal was not enough to save it from European hunters who enough to save it from European hunters who began hunting them for recreation and meat. began hunting them for recreation and meat. The last Bubal Hartebeest was probably a The last Bubal Hartebeest was probably a female which died in the Paris Zoo in 1923.female which died in the Paris Zoo in 1923.

Scientists say that now 3 species Scientists say that now 3 species of animals, birds or fish die out of animals, birds or fish die out every hour. That means that in every hour. That means that in 100 years from 25 % to 50% of all 100 years from 25 % to 50% of all living creatures on our planet will living creatures on our planet will disappear.disappear.