Of all the animal species that have ever lived on our planet, more than 99% have already become extinct. Even today, some of the planet's most incredible and unique animals are teetering on the brink of extinction. Whether it is over-hunting, habitat destruction, or the introduction of predators, we humans must take enormous responsibility for the threat we pose to animals. Fortunately, many people take action by forming environmental and wildlife groups. However, even despite their selfless and kind work, there are 25 endangered species of animals that we can lose in this century.
25. Far Eastern leopard
Endemic to the Amur River basin in the Russian Of the Far East and Manchuria, the Far Eastern leopard has adapted to the harsh conditions of the cold, temperate forests of its habitat. Unfortunately, the thick, beautiful fur of these big cats is highly prized in the fur markets, sometimes selling for $ 1,000 a skin. Although the trade and sale of leopard skins is banned worldwide, the lack of enforcement and regulation means that many of these creatures are poached every year.24. Cross River Gorilla
The western river gorilla, a subspecies of the western gorilla, is often confused with its more numerous relative, the western lowland gorilla. These primates, as the name suggests, live in the Cross River Basin along the Cameroon-Nigeria border. However, deforestation and increased human activity have reduced the gorilla population to around 250 by 2016. 23. Dwarf Sloth
The pygmy sloth is the smallest and rarest member of the three-toed sloth family, found only on caribbean island Escudo de Veraguas. With a body perfectly adapted for climbing and swimming, pygmy sloths are well adapted to life in the mangrove forests that are their home. However, like many other tree-dwelling animals, this species is threatened by deforestation and destruction of their habitat. 22. Florida Cougar
A close relative of the North American cougar, this big cat lived throughout the southeastern United States until the late 1600s, when human development began to encroach on its habitat. Inhabiting only about 5% of their historical range, these animals have not been seen outside the southern tip of Florida for decades, and today the Florida cougar is known as the official animal of the state, although it is one of the rarest creatures on the planet. 21.Calumma tarzan
The Tarzana Chameleon is a medium-sized lizard that can only be found in a small patch of decayed rainforest in the Alaotra-Mangoro region of Madagascar. The species was recently discovered, in 2009, and due to increased forest clearance and deforestation of the habitat, the lizard was given the status of endangered. Fortunately, movements that exist today are trying to convert their habitat into a forest reserve, and creating new breeding programs may be enough to bring the species back to a sustainable population. 20. Kakapo
This large, flightless land parrot is endemic to New Zealand and is often referred to as the owl parrot for its large body, owl face, and nocturnal lifestyle. Once one of the most abundant islands in and around New Zealand, the kakapo has become an increasingly rare animal since colonists introduced small predators such as cats, rats, and ferrets to the island and introduced into its ecosystem. There are currently only 123 surviving kakapo birds living in the world, but thanks to successful breeding programs and awareness raising, the number is expected to increase. 19. Chinese lizard, or Chinese pangolin
Sometimes referred to as scaly anteaters, Chinese pangolins are bizarre, armored-like creatures with large keratin scales along their backs and a sticky tongue adapted to feed on ants and termites. One of the rarest animals, the Chinese pangolin lives in southeastern China. Unfortunately, deforestation and poaching have led to a decline in the population, and it is estimated that hundreds of thousands (or more) of these unique animals die each year. 18. Tamarau, or Filipino buffalo
Tamarau is a small wild buffalo that is found only on Mindoro Island in the Philippines. Until the early 20th century, the tamarau population numbered in the tens of thousands, but by the 1960s, hunting and human development had reduced it to less than a hundred individuals. Since then, conservation efforts have reached varying levels of success, and the population of this rare species is currently estimated to be somewhere in the region of 30-200 individuals. 17. White-billed woodpecker
The white-billed woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in North America, occupied much of the southern and eastern United States until the 1800s, when rapid American expansion destroyed much of their habitat, reducing its population. In the middle of the 20th century, ornithologists considered this species extinct, but recent reports of sightings of the white-billed woodpecker in Florida and Arkansas give reason to hope that several individuals still survived. 16. Sumatran elephant
A subspecies of the Asian elephant, Sumatran elephants once lived throughout the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Unfortunately, human activity on the island has led to serious invasion and destruction of these elephants' habitats. In the 1980s, approximately 12 different herds of elephants lived in the southern part of the island, in Lampung province. However, a 2002 animal enumeration revealed only three. 15. Turtle Rafetus Svayno
Turtle Rafetus Svayno is the largest freshwater turtle on the planet and, unfortunately, one of the rarest. They were once found in great numbers along the Yangtze River in China, but habitat loss, pollution and hunting have slowly wiped out the entire population, leaving only three turtles in the world. Numerous attempts have been made to fertilize the only remaining female, and although none of them have been successful, scientists and zoologists do not lose hope of the return of the species. 14. Southern Bluefin Tuna
Reaching 2.5 meters in length and weighing over 250 kilograms (adults), southern bluefin tuna is one of the largest marine fish in the world. Once found in huge shoals in the southern hemisphere, tuna populations have declined by more than 85% from the mid to late 20th century due to extreme depletion of fish stocks. Many countries continue to fish for southern bluefin tuna on an industrial scale to this day, but due to tight regulation and breeding farms, there is still a chance that the species can recover. 13. Philippine eagle
This large and powerful eagle is endemic to the Philippines, single place in a world where they can be found living in the wild. In 2010, they were awarded endangered status, mainly due to the urbanization of their natural habitat. It is estimated that 180-500 individuals live in the wild today. In an effort to protect the remaining birds, the Philippine government declared the eagle a national bird, stating that harassing and killing a wild eagle would be punishable by heavy fines and a minimum of twelve years in prison. 12. Tonkin rhinopithecus
Endemic to the Khau Ca forest in northern Vietnam, the Tonkin Rhinopithecus is the largest monkey in South-East Asiaas well as one of the rarest primates in the world. For most of the 20th century, scientists considered the species extinct, but in 1992, a small population was re-discovered in the Vietnamese province of Tuyên Quang. Although this species remains endangered due to illegal deforestation, poaching and the use of their natural habitat, the population of these monkeys is slowly growing, and ecologists hope that it will be possible to completely revive it soon. 11. Metallic woody tarantula
Also known as Sapphire Gooty, this large spider was first discovered in a small town called Gooty in south-central India. Today it is known that they live only in a small forest between the cities of Nandyal and Jiddalur, more than 60 kilometers from the place of the first discovery. Despite being rare in the wild, the metal arboreal tarantula reproduces well in captivity and is a popular pet among spider lovers. 10. Byssa
Once prized for their ornate shells, the Bissa sea turtles have been hunted by humans since the days of the ancient Egyptians. Although most countries have imposed stringent bans on all trade and trafficking in tortoiseshell material, the Bissa habitat remains highly threatened due to commercial fishing and oil drilling in tropical waters. 9. Javan rhino
They were once found throughout Indonesia, Southeast Asia and even India. Currently, the range of Javanese rhinos is limited only by the territory National park Ujung Kulon National Park at the western tip of Java, Indonesia. The estimated population size is less than 60 individuals. The Javan rhinoceros is the most at risk of extinction of the entire rhino family and one of the rarest large land mammals in the world. 8. Blue-throated Macaw
Found only in the Llanos de Moxos region of Bolivia, the blue-throated macaw is an amazingly beautiful and rare member of the parrot family. During the 20th century, large numbers of macaws were caught and sold in the pet market, reducing the population of this species. Although the illegal fishing and sale of these birds ended in the 1990s, their population has yet to recover. Today, fewer than 400 blue-throated macaws are believed to live in their natural habitat. 7. Saola
Only recently discovered as a species, in 1992, the elusive Saola is one of the rarest and most mysterious creatures on the planet. Found deep in the forests of the Annamite mountain range in Vietnam and Laos, these forest animals are believed to be closely related to domesticated cattle. Unfortunately, unlike cattle, they have not adapted well to the loss of habitat as a result of urbanization, and all previous attempts to catch and start breeding this species have been unsuccessful. 6. Axolotl
Despite being colloquially called a "walking fish", this rare aquatic creature is actually an amphibian and a close relative of the tiger ambistoma. Found only in Lake Xochimilco in central Mexico, the wild axolotl population has been hit hard by the sprawling city of Mexico City, and extensive research in 2013 found the species on the brink of extinction. Despite this, these animals do well in captivity, and have even become a popular pet for many. 5. Red wolf
The hunt for the red wolf, often viewed as a pest or threat to livestock, led to the almost complete extinction of the species in the early 20th century. Once native to much of the southeastern United States, now believed to be wild in protected areas in North Carolina, fewer than 45 individuals still live, with about 200 captive breeding grounds. The US Fish and Wildlife Service hopes to someday reintroduce the red wolf into a conservation area in Florida and the rest of the east coast. However, illegal hunting and killing of wolves continue to be an obstacle to the survival of the species. 4. Chinese alligator
Smaller and less aggressive than its North American counterpart, the Chinese alligator is endemic to the Yangtze River Basin in eastern China. There are an estimated 120 Chinese alligators left in the wild, making them the most endangered crocodile species. Fortunately, many Chinese alligators are still in captivity, making this species a candidate for reintroduction in the near future. 3. California condor
Far from being the most beautiful bird, the California condor is one of the oldest and largest birds in North America, with a maximum wingspan of approximately 3 meters. The California condor was officially declared extinct in the wild in 1987, but after several years of captive breeding, the condors were gradually reintroduced into large reserves as part of one of the largest and most expensive conservation projects in the United States. There are currently about 500 California condors in the wild in Southern California and Arizona. 2. Addax
Addax is an African antelope found in the Sahara Desert. Overfishing and the destruction of their habitat by oil objects has brought this species to the brink of extinction. Nowadays, most addaxes live in zoos or private zoos, and there are almost none left in the wild. In May 2016, an extensive audit found only 3 remaining wild addaxes in Niger, and possibly in the world. 1. California porpoise
The smallest and perhaps most elusive member of the cetacean order, the California porpoise is a close relative of the porpoise, although marine biologists have had very little opportunity to learn more about them. These animals are found only in the northern part of the Gulf of California. The California porpoise is highly endangered due to the entry of boats into fishing nets, predominantly for industrial-scale shrimp. It is estimated that an average of 30 Californian porpoises die each year because of this. As of 2016, it is estimated that fewer than 50 individuals remain in the world. Internet marketer, editor of the site "In an accessible language"
Date of publication: 05.12.2017
Have you ever seen balinese tigeror marsupial wolf? Most likely no…
It is a pity, but there will no longer be a chance to see these amazing animals live, since they were recently declared extinct.
Despite all the efforts of organizations for the protection of endangered animals, some species periodically fall into the extinct list and very many are on the verge of extinction. The main culprit in the disappearance of animals in our time is man.
Today we will tell you about 15 bright representatives of the fauna that have become extinct quite recently, literally over the past 100 years.
Considered extinct since 1922.
The Barbary lion lived in the North African semi-deserts, steppes and forests, it was also common Atlas Mountains in northwest Africa.
The main distinguishing features of the predator are a very thick mane and large size. Males of the Barbary lion weighed from 160 to 250 kilograms, the weight of females was an order of magnitude less - from 100 to 170 kg. The mane of the Barbary lion grew not only on the neck and head, it went far over the shoulders, and also grew on the stomach.
In ancient Rome, entertaining competitions with the participation of the Barbary lion were widespread; its opponent, as a rule, was the Turanian tiger, which also became extinct.
The reason for the disappearance of the subspecies is considered purposeful extermination due to the frequent attacks of Barbary lions on livestock, the number of predators has decreased especially after the use of firearms for shooting.
The last Barbary lion was killed in 1922 in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
It is believed to be extinct since 1927.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org The Syrian kulan was widespread in the Arabian Peninsula, lived in deserts, semi-deserts, dry meadows and mountain steppes. Lived in Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
The main component in the diet of the Syrian kulan was grass, leaves of shrubs and trees.
The Syrian kulan was one of the smallest representatives of the equine, its height at the withers was only one meter. Also, its distinctive features can be attributed to the color changing depending on the season, in summer the color of the kulan's fur was olive, and in winter it acquired a sandy and even pale yellow color.
The last wild representative of the subspecies was shot in 1927 near the Azraq oasis in Jordan, and the last individual living in captivity died in the same year at the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna (Austria).
3. Marsupial wolf (thylacine)
It has been considered extinct since 1936.
Marsupial wolves at the New York Zoo, 1902. The marsupial wolf (or Tasmanian wolf) is the only representative of this family that has survived to the historical era.
Tilacin was the largest of the modern marsupial predators, its weight was 20-25 kg, the height at the withers reached 60 centimeters, the body length was 1-1.3 meters (with a tail - 1.5-1.8 m.).
It is known that in ancient times (the end of the Pleistocene and the beginning of the Holocene), stilacin lived on the territory of mainland Australia, as well as on the island New Guinea, about 3000 years ago, marsupial wolves were driven out of their territory by dingo dogs brought there by people from Southeast Asia.
In historical time, marsupial wolves lived only on the island of Tasmania - where dingo dogs did not penetrate.
The reason for the extinction of the Tasmanian wolf, as in a number of other cases, is the mass extermination by people. The marsupial wolf was considered the main enemy of Tasmanian farmers, it attacked sheep and ravaged poultry houses. In the 30s of the XIX century, a mass shooting of a predator began, the authorities issued rewards to hunters for the head of each killed animal.
After prolonged shooting, the number of thylacins decreased, rare specimens were found only in remote areas. In addition to shooting, severe damage to the Tasmanian wolf population was caused by a viral disease that flared up at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1914, marsupial wolves were numbered in units.
The last marsupial wolf that lived in the wild was killed on May 13, 1930, and in 1936 the last individual, kept in a private zoo in Hobart, died of old age.
In March 2017, the media reported that animals similar to thylacin hit the lenses of video traps in Cape York Park. To keep the animal's habitat a secret, the photos were not released to the public. There was no official confirmation that it was the marsupial wolf that hit the lenses.
It has been considered extinct since 1937.
Illustration: ru.wikipedia.org Gray kangaroos lived in the south and southeast of Australia. Individuals of this species could be found in open spaces next to eucalyptus forests, in which these animals hid during the rains.
The name of the animal was given in honor of Sir George Gray, who served as governor of South Australia from 1812 to 1898.
Like other members of the kangaroo family, Gray's kangaroos ate plant foods, mainly the foliage of shrubs and trees.
The main cause of extinction is considered to be poaching - people hunted kangaroos for fur and meat. In addition, scientists believe that the reason for the decline in the population of wild gray kangaroos is attacks on us by predatory animals.
The last Gray kangaroo to live in the wild was killed in 1924, and in 1937 the last individual who lived in the national park died.
Declared extinct in 1937.
Photo: animalreader.ru The Bali tiger lived exclusively on the island of Bali (Indonesia), most often this representative of the feline could be found in local forests.
The Bali tiger was one of the smallest representatives of the tiger species. The weight of the males was 90-100 kg, the females were slightly smaller, their weight rarely exceeded 80 kg, usually 65-75 kg. The body length of adult males was in the region of 120-230 centimeters, of females - from 93 to 183 cm.
The life span of Balinese tigers is 8-10 years.
After the killing of the first Balinese tiger in 1911, representatives of this subspecies began to be of interest to hunters. Due to the relatively small area of \u200b\u200bthe habitat of these animals, the Balinese tigers were very quickly exterminated.
The last female was killed in the western part of the island. The subspecies was officially declared extinct in 1937.
Considered extinct since 1938.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org The Shomburgka deer lived in central Thailand in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It could be found on swampy plains overgrown with bushes, reeds and tall grass.
During the rainy and flood seasons, Schomburgk's reindeer left the marshland and climbed high ground, becoming easy prey for hunters.
This species was named after the British Consul in Bangkok, Sir Robert Schomburgk, who worked there from 1857 to 1864.
According to scientists, the main reason for the extinction of the Schomburgk reindeer is the development of the infrastructure of cities located close to animal habitats. Drainage of swamps, construction of roads and enterprises have virtually destroyed the habitat of this animal. In addition, hunters and poachers have contributed to the extinction of this species.
It is known that the last Schomburgk deer that lived in the wild was killed in 1932, and the last individual living in the zoo died in 1938.
It has been considered extinct since 1950.
Photo: Harvard Museum of Natural History / Peabody Museum The insular hutia lived exclusively on the island of Little Sisne in the Caribbean Sea (the territory of Goonduras). Due to the fact that the base of the island on which the Hutis lived consists mainly of coral rock, these animals, as a rule, could not dig holes, therefore they settled in the crevices of the coral rock.
Representatives of the species were herbivores. Their weight could reach one kilogram, and the body length of an adult was 33-35 centimeters. The size of the males practically did not differ from the size of the females.
It is believed that the island hutis were exterminated by cats brought to the island by humans. The last mention of these creatures dates back to 1950.
The species has been considered extinct since 1952. It was officially declared extinct only in 2008.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org The Caribbean Monk Seal was the only seal to inhabit the Caribbean. They could be found on sandy beaches as well as reef lagoons.
Caribbean monk seals were last seen in the west Caribbean in 1952, since that moment no one has seen them again. During an expedition in the Caribbean in 1980, scientists did not find a single monk seal.
According to zoologists, the main reason for the extinction of the Caribbean monk seals is the negative impact of human activities on the environment.
It has been considered extinct since the 1960s.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org The Mexican grizzly lived in forests, it could be found in the state of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and North Durango in Mexico, in addition to this, individuals of this species were also found in the United States - in the states of Arizona and New Mexico.
The last time a live Mexican grizzly bear was seen in 1960.
The extinction of the Mexican grizzlies is associated with uncontrolled hunting for them, as well as with the development of human habitats of these animals.
In 1959, the Mexican government banned the hunting of Mexican grizzlies, but this measure was belated and did not help save the population.
It has been considered extinct since 1974.
Photo: ru.wikipedia.org The Japanese sea lion lived in the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan on the west and east coast of Japan, as well as on the east coast of Korea.
In addition, he could be found on Ryukyu Island (Japan), on south coast Russian Far East, on the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Sea of \u200b\u200bOkhotsk.
The main reason for the extinction of the Japanese sea \u200b\u200blion they are considered to be hunted and pursued by fishermen.
According to scientists, in the 19th century, the population of Japanese sea lions numbered from 30 to 50 thousand individuals. Uncontrolled hunting for them and the development of their habitats has led to a terrifying decline in their numbers. The last reliable information about 50-60 individuals was obtained in 1951, then a small population was found on the Liancourt Islands.
The last time a Japanese sea lion was seen was in 1974 on the coast of the small island of Rebun. Since that time, no one else has seen these animals.
11. Canary black oystercatcher
Recognized as extinct in 1994.
Photo: fishki.net The Canary Black Oystercatcher lived in West Africa on the Atlantic coast. This bird also suffered at the hands of humans. It is worth noting that people did not hunt this bird, but still brought it to death by starvation.
The law of nature "The fittest survives" and human activities have led to the extinction of very amazing animal species, which, unfortunately, we will never again be able to see with our own eyes.
1. Megaladapis (koala lemurs)
Koala lemurs (lat.Megaladapis Edwarsi) were identified as a species only in 1894. They lived on the island of Madagascar from the end of the Pleistocene to the Holocene. Some scholars considered megaladapis to be the closest relatives of modern lemurs. Nevertheless, according to the results of the conducted research, there is absolutely no connection between the small lepilemurs and the extinct koala lemurs, which had a skull the size of a gorilla.
The growth of adult megaladapis reached 1.5 meters, and a weight of approximately 75 kilograms. Their front legs were longer than the hind legs. Because of too much weight, they jumped badly and, probably, spent most of their lives on the ground.
The first people on the island of Madagascar appeared about two thousand years ago. During this period, seventeen species of lemurs became extinct, the most notable of which - due to their huge size - were the megaladapis. Radiocarbon dating shows that koala lemurs became extinct nearly 500 years ago.
2. Wonambi
Wonambi (lat.Wonambi Naracoortensis) lived in Australia during the Pliocene. "Wonambi" is translated from the language of local aborigines as "rainbow snake". Unlike the more advanced snakes, the vonambi's jaw was inactive. Some scientists believe that the wonambi, from an evolutionary point of view, were a cross between lizards and modern snakes.
The body length of wonambi reached more than 4.5 meters. They had backward-curved teeth, but no fangs. Most scientists agree that wonambi became extinct 40 thousand years ago.
3. Wingless auk
The wingless auk (Latin Pinguinus Impennis) are whimsical black and white birds that could not fly. The wingless auk, nicknamed the "original penguins", grew up to about one meter in height. They had tiny wings about 15 centimeters long. The wingless auk lived in the northern Atlantic waters near countries such as Scotland, Norway, Canada, the United States and France. They went on land only for breeding.
The wingless auk became highly prized in the early 18th century. Their expensive feathers, leather, meat, butter and thirteen-centimeter eggs attracted hunters and collectors alike. Ultimately, the auk was threatened with extinction, but this only increased the demand for them.
On July 3, 1844, Sigurdur Isleifsson, together with two comrades, went to the Icelandic island of Eldey, where at that time the last colony of wingless auk lived. They found a male and a female there, which was hatching an egg. The men hired by a wealthy merchant killed the birds and crushed an egg. It was the only pair of auk in the world.
The last member of the species of wingless auk was seen in 1852 in the waters of the Great Newfoundland Bank (Canada).
4. Deer Schomburgka
Once upon a time, hundreds of thousands of Schomburgk deer (Latin Rucervus Schomburgki) lived in Thailand. The animals were described and identified as a species in 1863. They were named after the then British Consul in Bangkok, Sir Robert Schomburgk. According to scientists, they became extinct in the 1930s. Some believe that Schomburgk's reindeer still exist, but scientific observations, unfortunately, have not confirmed this assumption.
The Thai people believed that the antlers of Shomburgk deer had magical and healing powers, so these animals were often prey to hunters, who then sold them to people practicing traditional medicine. During the floods, Schomburgk's reindeer gathered in the highlands; for this reason it was not difficult to kill them: in fact, they had nowhere to run.
The last wild reindeer of Schomburgk was killed in 1932, domesticated in 1938.
The last time representatives of the Jamaican giant (or sinking) gallivasp (lat.Celestus Occiduus) were seen in 1840. The body length of the Jamaican giant gallivasp reached 60 centimeters. With their appearance, they brought fear and horror to the local residents. Their disappearance is most likely associated with the appearance in Jamaica of predators such as mongooses, for example, as well as human factors.
Jamaicans believe that gallivasps are poisonous animals. According to legend, whoever gets to the water first - the gallivasp or the person he bitten - will live. However, now the inhabitants of the island do not need to worry about the giant gallivasps, as they became extinct more than a century ago. Very little is known about this species. Jamaican giant gallivasps, judging by the available information, lived in swamps, ate fish and fruits.
6. Argentavis
The skeleton of the Argentavis (Latin Argentavis Magnificens, literally - "the majestic Argentine bird") was discovered in the rocks of the Miocene in Argentina; this suggests that representatives of this species lived in South America six million years ago. It is believed that these are the largest flying birds that have ever existed on Earth. The growth of Argentavis reached 1.8 meters, and the weight reached 70 kilograms; its wingspan was 6-8 meters.
Argentavis belonged to the order of the hawk-like. This also includes hawks and vultures. Judging by the size of the Argentavis skull, they swallowed their prey whole. Their life expectancy, according to various estimates, ranged from 50 to 100 years.
7. Barbarian lion
Barbarian lions (Latin Panthera Leo Leo) lived in North Africa. They did not roam in packs, but in pairs or small family groups. The Barbarian lion was fairly easy to recognize by its characteristic head shape and mane.
The last wild barbarian lion was killed in Morocco in 1927. The Moroccan Sultan had several domesticated Barbarian lions in captivity. They were transferred to local and European zoos for further breeding.
It is known that during the Roman Empire, Barbarian lions participated in gladiatorial battles.
8. Laughing owl
Laughing owls (Latin Sceloglaux Albifacies) lived in New Zealand. They became endangered in the middle of the 19th century. The last of the laughing owls was seen on the island in 1914. According to unconfirmed reports, this species existed until the early 1930s. The cry of a laughing owl sounded like a creepy laugh or the laugh of a distraught man. The volume was comparable to the barking of a dog.
Laughing owls nested on rocks within the forest boundary or in open areas. There were people who tried to domesticate these birds, and in principle they were good at it. Laughing owls, even in captivity, lay eggs without stimulation. Habitat destruction has forced laughing owls to change their diet. From birds of fairly decent sizes (for example, ducks) and lizards, they switched to mammals. Apparently, this, along with such factors as cattle grazing and slash-and-burn agriculture, led to their extinction.
9. Blue antelope
The name of this antelope is due to the bluish sheen of its black and yellow coat. Blue antelopes (lat.Hippotragus Leucophaeus) once lived on the territory South Africa... They ate grass as well as the bark of trees and bushes. Blue antelopes were social and most likely nomadic animals. Before the advent of humans, they were hunted by African lions, hyenas and leopards.
The blue antelope population began to decline markedly around 2000 years ago. In the 18th century, they were already considered an endangered species. Predators, climate change, hunters, disease, and even the proximity of animals such as sheep are major contributors to the extinction of blue antelopes. The last representative of the species was killed by hunters in 1799.
10. Woolly rhino
The remains of a woolly rhinoceros (lat. Coelodonta Antiquitatis), who lived 3.6 million years ago, have been found in Asia, Europe and North Africa. The huge horn of one woolly rhinoceros was initially mistaken for the claw of a prehistoric bird.
Woolly rhinos lived in the same territory as woolly mammoths. In France, archaeologists have discovered caves on the walls of which were depicted drawings of woolly rhinos, made 30 thousand years ago. Primitive people hunted woolly mammoths, so these animals became the subject of cave art. In 2014, a spear was found in Siberia, created from the horn of an adult woolly rhinoceros more than 13 thousand years ago. It is believed that woolly rhinos became extinct at the end of the last ice age about 11 thousand years ago.
11. Quagga - half zebra - half horse, completely extinct in 1883
Quagga is one of the most famous extinct animals of South Africa, which was one of the subspecies of zebras. Quaggi were very trusting and amenable to training, which means they were instantly tamed by man and got their name from the word "Koi-Koi", which the owner called his animal.
In addition to being extremely friendly, the Quaggi were also delicious and their hide was worth its weight in gold. It was these reasons that caused the complete extermination of these animals. By 1880, there was only one Quagga in the world, who died in captivity on August 12, 1883 at the Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam. Due to the great confusion between different kinds zebras, quaggi became extinct before it became clear that it is a separate species. By the way, Quagga became the first extinct animal whose DNA has been studied.
12. Steller's cow, completely extinct in 1768
This type of sea cow lived near the Asian coast Bering Sea... These unusual animals were discovered by the traveler and naturalist Georg Steller in 1741. The gigantic creatures immediately impressed Steller with their size: adults reached 10 meters in length and weighed up to 4 tons. The animals looked like huge seals and had massive forelimbs and a tail. According to Steller, the animal never came out of the water onto the shore.
These animals had dark, almost black skin, which resembled the bark of a cracked oak trunk, the neck was completely absent, and the head, planted directly on the torso, was very small in comparison with the rest of the body. Steller's cow mainly ate plankton and small fish, which she swallowed whole, due to the fact that she had no teeth.
People valued this animal because of its fat. Because of him, the entire population of this unusual animal was exterminated.
13. The Irish Deer is a giant deer that went extinct 7,700 years ago
The Irish Deer is the largest artiodactyl that has ever existed on planet Earth. These animals lived in huge numbers in Eurasia. The last found remains of a giant deer date from 5700 BC.
These deer reached 2.1 meters in length and had huge antlers, which in adult males reached 3.65 meters in width. These animals lived in the forest, where, due to the size of their horns, they were easy prey for both any small predator and humans.
14. Dodo, completely extinct in the 17th century
The Dodo (or Dodo) was a species of flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. The dodo belonged to the dove-like, but was distinguished by its enormous size: adults reached up to 1.2 meters in height and weighed up to 50 kg. Dodos ate mainly fruits that fell from trees and built nests on the ground, and given the fact that their meat was tender and juicy from a fruit diet, they became a real delicacy for anyone who could get to them. But fortunately for the Dodoes, there were no predators at all on Mauritius. This idyll lasted until the 17th century, when Europeans landed on the island. The Hunt for Dront became the main source of ship resupply. With people, dogs, cats and rats were brought to the island, which happily ate the eggs of helpless birds.
The dodo were helpless in the literal sense of the word: they did not know how to fly, they ran slowly and the hunt for them was reduced to catching up with the fleeing bird with a leisurely gait and hitting it on the head with a stick. In addition to everything, Dodo was trusting like a child and as soon as people beckoned him with a fruit, the bird itself approached the most dangerous predator on planet Earth.
15. Thylacine - Marsupial Wolf, completely extinct in 1936
Thylacin was the largest carnivorous marsupial animal. It is commonly known as the Tasmanan Tiger (due to the striped back of the body) and also as the Wolf of Tasmania. The tartar wolf was exterminated on the Australian mainland thousands of years before the continent was populated by Europeans, but survived in Tasmania, along with other marsupial animals (such as as the well-known Tasmanian Devil).
The thylacins had disgusting meat, but a great hide. Clothes made from the skin of this animal could warm a person in the most severe frost, so the hunt for this wolf did not stop until 1936, when it turned out that all individuals had already been exterminated.
16.Passenger pigeon
One example of human-induced disappearances is passenger pigeon... Once upon a time, multimillion flocks of these birds flew in the sky of North America. Seeing food, the pigeons rushed down like a huge locust, and when they were full, they flew away, completely destroying fruits, berries, nuts, insects. This gluttony irritated the colonists. In addition, the pigeons tasted very good. In one of Fenimore Cooper's novels, it is described how, when a flock of pigeons approached, the entire population of cities and towns poured into the streets, armed with slingshots, guns, sometimes even cannons. They killed as many pigeons as they could. The pigeons were laid in ice cellars, cooked immediately, fed the dogs, or simply thrown away. Even competitions in shooting pigeons were organized, and towards the end of the 19th century machine guns were also used.
The last wandering pigeon, Martha, died at the zoo in 1914.
16.Tour
It was a powerful animal with a muscular, slender body, about 170-180 cm high at the withers and weighing up to 800 kg. The high-set head was crowned with long, sharp horns. The coloration of adult males was black with a narrow white “belt” along the back, while females and young animals were reddish-brown. Although the last rounds lived out their days in the forests, earlier these bulls kept mainly in the forest-steppe, and often entered the steppe. They probably wandered to the forests only in winter. They ate grass, shoots and leaves of trees and bushes. The rut was in the fall, and the calves appeared in the spring. They lived in small groups or alone, and for the winter they united in larger herds. The turs had few natural enemies: these strong and aggressive animals easily coped with any predator.
In historical times, the tour met almost throughout Europe, as well as in North Africa, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. In Africa, this beast was exterminated in the third millennium BC. e., in Mesopotamia - by about 600 BC. e. In Central Europe, tours survived much longer. Their disappearance here coincided with intensive deforestation in the 9th-11th centuries. In the XII century, tours still met in the Dnieper basin. At that time they were actively exterminated. Vladimir Monomakh wrote about the difficult and dangerous hunting of wild bulls.
By 1400, the tours lived only in relatively sparsely populated and inaccessible forests on the territory of modern Poland, Belarus and Lithuania. Here they were taken under the protection of the law and lived like park animals in the royal estates. In 1599, a small herd of rounds still lived in the royal forest 50 km from Warsaw - 24 individuals. By 1602, only 4 animals remained in this herd, and in 1627 the last round on Earth died
17.Moa
Moa is a flightless bird that looks like an ostrich. Lived on the islands of New Zealand. It reached a height of 3.6 m. After the arrival of the first Polynesian settlers on the islands, the Moa population began to decline rapidly. Too large, sluggish birds could not hide from hunters and by about the 18th century the Moa had completely disappeared from the face of the earth.
18.Epiornis
Epiornis were birds very similar to Moa, with only one difference - they lived in Madagascar. Over 3 meters tall and weighing more than 500 kilograms, they were real giants. Epiornis lived in Madagascar quite well until the moment when people began to settle it. Before humans, they had only their natural enemy, the crocodile. By about the 16th century, the Epiornis, aka Elephant Birds, were completely exterminated.
19.Tarpan
Tarpan was the ancestor of the modern horse. It's hard to believe it, but back in the 18-19 centuries it was widespread in the steppes of the European part of Russia, a number of European countries and on the territory of Western Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, the tarpan meat was very tasty and people exterminated them for this very reason. The main culprits in the disappearance of tarpans are Catholic monks, who, being horse-eaters, exterminated them in huge numbers. Eyewitnesses of these events wrote that the monks mounted fast horses and simply drove herds of horses. As a result, it was possible to catch only foals that could not bear the long race.
20. Japanese Hondo wolf
The Japanese wolf was distributed on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu in the Japanese archipelago. He was the smallest of all wolves. An epidemic of rabies and extermination by people brought the wolf to complete extinction. The last Hondo wolf died in 1905.
21 Falkland Fox (Falkland Wolf)
The Falkland Fox was reddish-brown in color with black ears, a black tail tip and a white belly. The fox barked like a dog and was the only predator in the Falkland Islands. Nothing foreshadowed her disappearance, since she had plenty of food. Even then, in 1833, Charles Darwin, describing this wonderful animal, predicted its disappearance, as hunters would shoot her uncontrollably because of her thick and valuable fur. In addition, the fox was poisoned with poisons, allegedly representing a great threat to sheep and other domestic animals.
The Falkland wolf had no natural enemies and he naively trusted people, not even realizing that they were the worst enemy. As a result, the last fox was killed in 1876.
22.Baiji - Chinese river dolphin.
People did not hunt the Chinese river dolphin, which lived in the Yangtze rivers of Asia, but were indirectly involved in its extinction. The waters of the river were overflowing with merchant and cargo ships, which simply polluted the river. In 2006, a special expedition confirmed the fact that Baiji no longer exists on earth as a species.
He looked like a penguin. The sailors hunted them, because their meat was tasty, and the catch of this bird was not difficult. As a result, in 1912, the last information about Cormorant Steller was received.
In nature, something is constantly changing, and these changes can be both minor and global. An unstable climate, epidemics, environmental pollution, deforestation - all this negatively affects the animal world. All forms of life on Earth are closely interconnected and the disappearance of one or another species is reflected in other types of ecosystems. The fact that there are rare and endangered animals on our planet is mainly human fault.
Intensive hunting at the end of the Ice Age led to the extinction of the mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, cave bear and big-horned deer.
The invention of fire by man brought a lot of harm to the animal world. Fires have destroyed huge areas of forests.
The negative influence of man on the animal world intensified with the development of agriculture and livestock raising. The result of this is simply extinct animals and birds that have lost their habitat, as steppes and savannahs have replaced dense forests.
Caring for animals and plants has long been a task. Other organizations are also working on this. Rare and endangered animals (like plants) are listed in the Red Book. The country in which endangered species live is responsible to all mankind for their preservation. Currently, in nature reserves, preserves, conditions are created for preservation where they are looked after, fed, protected from diseases and predators.
Special pages of the Red Book have an ominous name - Black Book. It records which animals have disappeared forever from the face of the earth, starting with the Black Book - this is a warning for people and a reminder of those representatives of our world that cannot be returned. The book of disappeared animals is constantly updated. There are already several hundred species on its pages. And this is a very sad statistic.
This article describes some of the animals that disappeared through human fault.
Tasmanian, or marsupial wolf
The homeland of this animal is mainland Australia and the island of New Guinea. For the first time, the marsupial wolf had to change its habitat after people were transported to the island. The marsupial wolf displaced by them ended up on the island of Tasmania, where local farmers began to mercilessly exterminate it, trying to protect the sheep.
The last member of the species was killed in 1930. The date of its final disappearance is considered to be 1936, when the last Tasmanian wolf died of old age in the Australian zoo.
Woolly mammoth
There is an opinion that Siberia is the homeland of this animal, and later it spread throughout Europe and North America. The mammoth was not as huge as it is commonly believed. It was slightly larger than a modern elephant in size.
These animals, which disappeared through human fault (presumably), lived in groups. They moved from place to place in search of food, which required a considerable amount of them. The group of mammoths was led by a female.
The complete extinction of this species of animals occurred approximately ten thousand years ago. Modern researchers are inclined to believe that people were the main reason for the extinction of mammoths, although there are many other theories (climate change, epidemics, etc.).
Mauritian dodo (dodo)
This bird has long been considered a mythical bird that does not exist in nature.
And only after a specially organized expedition to Mauritius discovered the remains of a dodo, the existence of the species was officially recognized. In addition, it was proven that it was people who exterminated these birds.
The year when this species completely disappeared from the face of the earth is 1914, when the bird named Martha died in one of the zoos.
North African cow antelope
An animal from the subfamily of large antelopes living in Africa disappeared from the map of the Earth in the middle of the twentieth century.
Due to the fact that these animals were actively hunted, the last representatives of this species could be found only in very inaccessible places for humans on the African continent. In 1954, finally.
Javanese tiger
In the nineteenth century, this tiger could be found on the territory of the island of Java. The animal constantly annoyed the local residents, which, perhaps, was the reason for the active hunt for it.
By 1950, about 25 tigers remained in Java, and half of them lived in a specially created reserve. Unfortunately, this did not help save the population - in 1970 there were only seven tigers left.
In the same year, the animal disappeared completely from the face of the earth. Although there are still occasional reports of a Javanese tiger being found on the island again. But there is no documentary evidence for these cases.
Zanzibar leopard
The history of the destruction of this animal is very unusual. The local residents purposefully exterminated the Zanzibar leopard, going hunting throughout the village. Moreover, it was not the meat or the skin of the animal that attracted people. It was believed that this leopard is associated with witches, who are engaged in breeding and training representatives of the species, and in the future use them as assistants in their dark affairs.
The extermination of leopards began in 1960. These animals completely disappeared after exactly thirty years.
Pyrenean ibex
It is one of the four species of Spanish wild goats. The animal did not manage to survive to this day, and the death of the last representative was extremely ridiculous - a tree fell on the animal and crushed it.
The year of complete extinction is considered to be 2000. Scientists tried to clone the Iberian ibex, but the cub could not be saved, as it had many birth defects.
Western black rhino
Just a few years ago, the animal was declared extinct. The reason for this was the regular hunting in its habitat, which is Cameroon. These animals, which disappeared due to human fault, had very valuable horns, which were used in many recipes of Chinese medicine.
The search for surviving rhinos began in 2006, but have not yielded results. Therefore, the species was declared extinct. In addition, other rhinos are on the verge of extinction.
2011 is considered the year of complete extinction of the species.
This article presents only a few animals that have disappeared through human fault. Over the past five hundred years, more than 844 species have been exterminated.
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