Many are extinct animals as a result of the action of man. In this article we address 10 of the most emblematic species that no longer exist.
In history, man has been capable of the best, but also of the worst. Among the great errors of humanity is that of have disregarded animal life of our natural landscapes. The fauna and flora have paid for our excesses, and as a consequence there are many extinct animals in recent decades. Among the causes of this extinction we find the destruction of natural habitats, excessive hunting and the introduction of invasive species external to the medium. Animals that evolution had taken millions of years to shape, and that we have made extinct in barely a century. In this article we talk about 10 species that you will never be able to see again, They are considered extinct.
northern white rhino
The first animal on this list of species that have disappeared due to human action is the northern white rhinoceros. in the year 2014 its extinction was officially announced as a consequence of the death of the last male specimen in a Kenyan reserve. This species is actually a white rhino subspecies, and, although trials are underway to try to fertilize to one of the two females in vitro, the result will never be a pure northern white rhino.
One of the last specimens of northern white rhino
Java tiger
Present only on the island of Java in Indonesia, the Javan tiger was a tiger subspecies that could only be found on that island. It was declared extinct in 2004 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The direct cause of its extinction was the implementation of rice farms to meet the food demand of an out-of-control human population. This change in its natural habitat caused the Javan tiger to stay without a medium in which to hunt, causing the extinction of the species.
Black and white photograph of one of the last specimens of the Javan tiger
California grizzly bear
As historical data, the last grizzly bear in California was killed in 1922, although another specimen it was supposedly seen in 1924. Member of the Ursidae family, this animal has been, is and will always be the California state emblem (It can be seen on the flag of said West Coast State). The fundamental reason for its extinction is due to the fact that the Californian grizzly bear he was very aggressive with other animals (such as domestic cattle) and the first North American settlers. Based on bullets, traps and poisoned baits, The population of this species was declining until it became extinct.
Stuffed specimen of Californian brown bear
Dodo
If you have ever visited the Mauritius Island, In the Indian Ocean, you probably know that the dodo is their national emblem. It was on that island, 900 km away from the island of Madagascar, where European sailors from late 17th century They found the Dodo. That it only existed on that island was a fatality for the species. A trusting animal that ended up becoming extinct for two reasons. On one side, because hunger led the sailors to kill and eat them. On the other hand, the introduction of other invasive species such as pigs, dogs or monkeys, led to the their eggs are destroyed. Without eggs there could be no reproduction of the species, and only 100 years after its discovery the dodo became extinct.
In what year did the dodo become extinct?
The dodo became extinct in the year 1662.
One of the best-known extinct animals in history due to the action of man
giant auk
Native to the North Atlantic, the razorbill has been hunted by humans for thousands of years. The problem was that late 16th century we extinguished it in continental Europe, since mid 19th century we finished extincting the few specimens that took refuge in Iceland. The reason why it was hunted in such an intense way it was because its meat was very nutritious for sailors/explorers, and its fat was used as fuel for lamps. But it does not end there, their eggs served as decor for aristocratic houses, their feathers made beautiful dresses and were even used as bait to catch killer whales. It is no longer part of Europe’s endangered animals.
Caribbean monk seal
Another of the great extinct animals is the Caribbean monk seal. Survivors of the colonization of the Caribbean by the Europeans the monk seal could not withstand the level of intensive hunting to which it was exposed. Overfishing led to their disappearance, already put in check the monk seal subspecies of the Mediterranean and monk seal Hawaii.
The extinct relative of the Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seal
north american eastern cougar
The North American eastern cougar was sadly declared extinct in 2011. That same year, this puma was no longer critically endangered, and became extinct. since the 30s it was rare to see an eastern cougar, but there were a few alive. There are not many visual data of this animal, not even photographs. The reasons for its extinction? Mainly the construction of mines, sawmills and other exploitations that led to the scarcity of prey for this animal. Likewise, this subspecies of puma suffered the poaching to get their precious fur.
fled
The flee was a endemic bird to the island of New Zealand. It was the only species that showed a sexual dimorphism in the beak, since, in comparison with the males, the peak of the females it was longer and curved. The causes of its extinction? Mainly the destruction of their natural habitat, as a consequence of the intensive agriculture. As with the Dodo, the introduction of invasive species by humans played a crucial role in the extinction of the huia, Whose song we will never hear again.
Engraving of two specimens (male and female) of huia
Baiji
The only freshwater dolphin that existed throughout China was sadly declared extinct in 2006. The baiji stopped reproducing in the yangtze river, where some optimists hope to see a copy again at some point. The main cause of its extinction was the super industrialization of the Asian country, that has led to the contamination of the natural environment and the destruction of the natural environment of this animal. intensive fishing to flee from famines is another of the great responsible for its extinction. Sadly it is no longer part of the endangered animals of Asia.
One of the world’s few freshwater dolphins, now extinct
Quagga
animal originating from South Africa, the Quagga disappeared as consequence of a period of intensive hunting in the 19th century. An animal that only lasted a few decades in contact with humans. The question is that dutch settlers they liked its meat and skin very much, as well as being a kind of zebra that competed for food. forage resources so necessary for domestic livestock.
It’s been so long since the extinction of the Quagga, that all we have left are engravings like this