Endangered species of animals and plants. Statistics and Trends
Internet marketer, editor of the site "In an accessible language"
Publication date: 12/05/2017
Have you ever seen Bali tiger or marsupial wolf? Most likely no…
It's 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 to protect endangered animals, some species periodically fall into the list of extinct and many are on the verge of extinction. Man is the main culprit in the extinction of animals in our time.
Today we will tell you about 15 bright representatives of the extinct fauna 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, and it was also distributed in the Atlas Mountains in northwestern Africa.
The main distinguishing features of the predator are a very thick mane and large size. The males of the Barbary lion weighed from 160 to 250 kilograms, the weight of the 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 beyond the shoulders, and also grew on the stomach.
In ancient Rome, entertaining competitions with the participation of the Barbary lion were common, as a rule, the Turanian tiger, which also died out, acted as its opponent.
The reason for the disappearance of the subspecies is considered to be targeted extermination due to the frequent attacks of Barbary lions on livestock, the number of predators has decreased especially strongly after they began to use firearms for shooting.
The last Barbary lion was killed in 1922 in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Considered extinct since 1927.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org The Syrian kulan was distributed on 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 horses, its height at the withers was only one meter. Also, its distinctive features include the color changing depending on the season, in summer the color of the fur of the kulan 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)
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 survived to the historical era.
Thylacine was the largest of the marsupial predators of our time, 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 of 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 times, 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 of people. The marsupial wolf was considered the main enemy of the Tasmanian farmers, he attacked the sheep and ruined the poultry houses. In the 30s of the 19th century, a mass shooting of a predator began, the authorities gave rewards to hunters for the head of each killed animal.
After a long shooting, the number of thylacines decreased, rare specimens were found only in remote areas. In addition to shooting, the Tasmanian wolf population was severely damaged by a viral disease that broke out at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1914, marsupial wolves were numbered in units.
The last marsupial wolf living 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 thylacine were caught in the lenses of video traps in Cape York Park. For reasons of keeping the animal's habitat a secret, the photographs were not released to the public. There was no official confirmation that it was the marsupial wolf that got into the lenses.
Considered extinct since 1937.
Illustration: en.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.
Poaching is considered the main cause of extinction - 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 them by predatory animals.
Gray's last wild kangaroo was killed in 1924, and in 1937 the last individual living 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 feline representative could be found in local forests.
The Bali tiger was one of the smallest representatives of the tiger species. The weight of males was 90-100 kg, 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, females - from 93 to 183 cm.
The life expectancy of Bali tigers is 8-10 years.
After the killing of the first Bali 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 Bali tigers were exterminated very quickly.
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: en.wikipedia.org The Schomburgka deer lived in central Thailand in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It could be found on swampy plains overgrown with shrubs, reeds and tall grass.
During the rainy and flood season, Schomburgk's reindeer would leave the marshland and rise to higher ground, becoming easy prey for hunters.
Representatives of this species were 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 deer is the development of the infrastructure of cities located near the habitats of animals. Drainage of swamps, construction of roads and enterprises have actually destroyed the habitats of this animal. In addition, hunters and poachers have made their "contribution" to the extinction of this species.
It is known that the last Schomburgk deer living in the wild was killed in 1932, and the last individual living in the zoo died in 1938.
Considered extinct since 1950.
Photo: Harvard Museum of Natural History / Peabody Museum The island hutia lived exclusively on the island of Small Sisne in the Caribbean Sea (the territory of Goonduras). Due to the fact that the base of the island on which the Hutii 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 length of the body of an adult individual was 33-35 centimeters. The sizes of males practically did not differ from the sizes of females.
It is believed that the island hutias were exterminated by cats brought to the island by people. The last mention of these creatures dates back to 1950.
The species has been considered extinct since 1952. Officially declared extinct only in 2008.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org The Caribbean monk seal was the only representative of the genus of seals that lived in the Caribbean Sea. They could be found on sandy beaches, as well as reef lagoons.
Caribbean monk seals were last sighted in the western Caribbean in 1952 and have not been seen since. During an expedition conducted 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.
Considered extinct since the 1960s.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org The Mexican grizzly lived in the forests, it could be found in the state of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Northern Durango in Mexico, in addition, 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 was seen was in 1960.
The extinction of Mexican grizzlies is associated with uncontrolled hunting for them, as well as with the development of human habitats for 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.
Considered extinct since 1974.
Photo: en.wikipedia.org The Japanese sea lion lived in the Sea of Japan on the west and east coasts of Japan, as well as on the east coast of Korea.
In addition, it could be found on the island of Ryukyu (Japan), on the southern coast of the Russian Far East, on the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin and in the south of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Sea of Okhotsk.
The main reason for the extinction of the Japanese sea lion is considered to be hunting and persecution 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 reduction 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 in 1974 on the coast of the small island of Rebun. Since that time, no one else saw these animals.
11. Canary black oystercatcher
Declared extinct in 1994.
Photo: fishki.net The Canarian black oystercatcher lived in West Africa on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. This bird also suffered from human hands. It is worth noting that people did not hunt this bird, but still brought it to starvation.
If you take the 10 rarest animal species on the planet, then they will account for less than 2,500 individuals! These "friends of man" may soon completely disappear from the face of the Earth, as happened with dodos, marsupial wolves and sea cows. Who is at risk?
California condor. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Stacy from San Diego
How many of them: 130
Where does it live: In California, Arizona (USA), northwestern Mexico.
A very rare species of bird from the family of American vultures. It was once distributed throughout the North American continent. It was a prestigious target for hunters, which brought it to the brink of extinction. In 1987, when the last free-living condor was caught, their total number was only 27 individuals. But thanks to good breeding in captivity, these birds began to be released again.
Northern right whale. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
How many of them: 350
Where does it live: Off the coast of New England (USA), in the Gulf of Mexico.
Previously, their number was estimated at 100 thousand. Due to the fact that these whales live near the coast, they became the first victim of a human hunter. In the Middle Ages, they were killed by the tens of thousands. In the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the population was completely destroyed. Unlike other species of whales, after the cessation of hunting, right whales almost could not increase in number - they interfere with the development of offshore oil and gas fields.
Red wolf. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
How many of them: 100
Where does it live: In North Carolina and Tennessee (USA).
Today it is the rarest representative of the genus of wolves. It was widely distributed in the southeastern United States, but red wolves were exterminated for attacks on livestock and poultry. In 1967, the species was declared endangered, the entire current population descended from 14 individuals kept in captivity, where they were specially placed for breeding.
River gorilla. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / arenddehaas
How many of them: 300
Where does it live: On the border between Cameroon and Nigeria.
A subspecies of the western gorilla. The most vulnerable of all African primates: loss of habitat and intense hunting have contributed to the decline in their numbers. The authorities of Cameroon have developed a special plan for the conservation of river gorillas and created a national park.
Irbis (snow leopard)
Irbis. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
How many of them: 80
Where does it live: To the west of Lake Baikal - in the mountains of Altai, Sayan, Tannu-Ola.
The only species of large cats that has adapted to living in highlands. Belonging to poorly studied species, for a long time remained a mystery to scientists, because it is extremely cautious. Poachers hunted him for his hide. For many Asian peoples, this beast is a symbol of nobility and power. His image is often placed on coats of arms.
Asian lion. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / supersujit
How many of them: 350
Where does it live: In the Girsky reserve, in the northwest of India.
Once the species was distributed over a vast territory from Greece to India. It was this beast that entered into battles with gladiators in the arenas of Roman amphitheatres. Gradually it was destroyed by hunters. In 1900, about a hundred lions that lived in the Gir forest were taken under protection by the Indian authorities. In the 1990s, to save the endangered population, India donated several pairs of animals to European zoos. However, at the moment the species is preserved only in this reserve.
Sumatran rhinoceros. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Charles W. Hardin
How many of them: 300
Where does it live: On the Malay Peninsula, on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.
Over the past 20 years, the population of the species has decreased by about 50%. Only 6 viable populations have survived, 4 of them are on the island of Sumatra. The reduction is caused primarily by poaching for horns, which are in demand in Chinese medicine. Keeping these rhinoceroses in captivity does not work: many die before the age of 20 years, without bringing offspring. The habits of this animal are poorly understood, and it is not yet possible to create favorable conditions for its keeping in captivity.
Far Eastern leopard. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Keven Law
How many of them: 40
Where does it live: In Primorye (Russia), in China and on the Korean Peninsula.
The rarest of the big cats. Hunting for a leopard and its food (roe deer and sika deer), deforestation, systematic burning of vegetation, laying roads led to a significant reduction in numbers and range. Now the view is on the verge of complete destruction. Leopards in zoos and nurseries are closely related, because their offspring degenerate.
Indochinese tiger. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Lotse
How many of them: 500
Where does it live: On the Indochina Peninsula.
It is an object of hunting for the sake of the skin and organs from which Chinese medicine preparations are made. The population of the Indochinese tiger is believed to be declining faster than other species: supposedly, poachers kill one animal every week. They live in mountain forests, mainly along the borders between countries.
Javan rhinoceros. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org
How many of them: 60
Where does it live: On the western tip of the island of Java, in a national park.
The decrease in the number is directly related to poaching: in traditional Chinese medicine, the horn of this animal is highly valued (the cost reaches $30,000 per 1 kg), it has been traded for more than 2,000 years. In addition, the animal suffers due to deforestation for arable land. Attempts to keep the Javan rhinoceros in zoos have been unsuccessful.
Main threats:
- habitat loss;
- poaching;
- destruction of the forage base;
- environmental pollution;
- changing of the climate;
- irrational human use of natural resources.
The law of nature “Survival of the fittest” and human activity have led to the extinction of very amazing species of animals, which, unfortunately, we will never be able to see with our own eyes again.
1. Megaladapis (koala lemurs)
Koala lemurs (lat. Megaladapis Edwarsi) as a species were identified only in 1894. They lived on the island of Madagascar from the end of the Pleistocene to the Holocene. Some scientists considered megaladapis to be the closest relatives of modern lemurs. However, according to the results of the studies carried out, there is absolutely no connection between small lepilemurs and extinct koala lemurs, which had a skull the size of a gorilla.
The growth of adult megaladapis reached 1.5 meters, and their weight was approximately 75 kilograms. Their front legs were longer than their hind legs. They jumped badly because of too much weight 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 megaladapis. Radiocarbon dating shows that koala lemurs became extinct almost 500 years ago.
2. Wonambi
Wonambi (lat. Wonambi Naracoortensis) lived in Australia during the Pliocene era. "Wonambi" from the language of the local aborigines is translated as "rainbow snake". Unlike more developed snakes, the jaws of the wanambi were inactive. Some scientists believe that wonambi, from an evolutionary point of view, were a cross between lizards and modern snakes.
Wonambi body length reached more than 4.5 meters. They had recurved teeth but no fangs. Most scientists agree that the Wonambi became extinct 40,000 years ago.
3. great auk
Great auks (lat. Pinguinus Impennis) are bizarre black and white birds that could not fly. The growth of flightless auks, which were nicknamed the "original penguins", reached about one meter. They had tiny wings about 15 centimeters long. Great auks lived in the northern waters of the Atlantic Ocean near countries such as Scotland, Norway, Canada, the United States and France. They only come to land to breed.
Great auks began to be highly valued in the early 18th century. Their expensive feathers, leather, meat, butter and thirteen-centimeter eggs attracted hunters and collectors. Ultimately, wingless auks were 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 auks lived. They found a male and a female there incubating the egg. The men hired by a wealthy merchant killed the birds and crushed the egg. It was the only pair of great auks in the world.
The last representative of the wingless auk species 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 (lat. 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 deer still exist, but scientific observations, unfortunately, have not confirmed this assumption.
The Thai people believed that the antlers of the Schomburgk deer had magical and healing powers, so these animals were often hunted and sold to people practicing traditional medicine. During floods, the reindeer of Schomburgk congregated on the higher ground; for this reason, it was not difficult to kill them: in fact, there was nowhere for them to run.
The last wild Schomburgk reindeer 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 gallivasps reached 60 centimeters. With their appearance, they inspired fear and horror in the locals. Their extinction appears to be related to the introduction of predators in Jamaica, such as the mongoose, for example, and to human factors.
Jamaicans believe that gallivaspas are poisonous animals. According to legend, whoever gets to the water first - the gallivasp or the person he bit - will live. However, the islanders do not need to worry about the giant gallivaspas now, as they have been extinct for over a century. Very little is known about this species. Jamaican giant gallivaspas, judging by the available information, lived in swamps, fed on fish and fruits.
6. Argentavis
The Argentavis skeleton (lat. 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 hawk-like order. 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 Barbary Lion
Barbary lions (lat. Panthera Leo Leo) lived in North Africa. They roamed not in packs, but in pairs or small family groups. The Barbarian lion was quite easily recognizable by the characteristic shape of its head and mane.
The last wild Barbary lion was killed in Morocco in 1927. The Moroccan sultan had several domesticated Barbary lions in captivity. They have been transferred to local and European zoos for further breeding.
Barbary lions are known to have participated in gladiator fights during Roman times.
8. Laughing owl
Laughing owls (lat. Sceloglaux Albifacies) lived in New Zealand. They became endangered in the middle of the 19th century. The last laughing owl was seen on the island in 1914. According to unconfirmed reports, this species existed until the early 1930s. The cry of a laughing owl was like a terrible laughter or the laughter of a distraught person. It was comparable in volume to the barking of a dog.
Laughing owls nested on rocks within the forest boundary or in open country. There were people who tried to domesticate these birds, and in principle they did quite well. Laughing owls, even living in captivity, laid eggs without stimulation. Habitat destruction has forced laughing owls to change their diet. From birds of fairly decent size (for example, ducks) and lizards, they switched to mammals. Apparently, this, along with factors such as grazing and slash-and-burn agriculture, led to their extinction.
9. Blue Antelope
The name of this antelope was given by the bluish reflection of its black and yellow coat. Blue antelopes (lat. Hippotragus Leucophaeus) once lived in South Africa. They ate grass, as well as the bark of trees and shrubs. Blue antelopes were social and most likely nomadic animals. Before the appearance of people, they were hunted by African lions, hyenas and leopards.
The population of blue antelopes began to noticeably decline about 2000 years ago. In the XVIII century, they were already considered an endangered species. Predators, climate change, hunters, diseases and even proximity to animals such as sheep are the main factors that led 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, were found in Asia, Europe and North Africa. The huge horn of one woolly rhinoceros was initially mistaken by scientists 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, made from the horn of an adult woolly rhinoceros more than 13,000 years ago. The woolly rhinoceros is believed to have died out at the end of the last ice age, about 11,000 years ago.
11. Quagga - half zebra - half horse, completely extinct in 1883
The quagga is one of the most famous extinct animals of South Africa, which was one of the subspecies of zebras. Quaggas were very trusting and easy to train, which means they were instantly tamed by humans and got their name from the word "Koi-Koi", with which the owner called his animal.
In addition to being extremely friendly, quaggs were also very tasty, and their skin 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, which died in captivity on August 12, 1883 at the Artis Magistra Zoo in Amsterdam. Due to a lot of confusion between different species of zebra, the Quagga became extinct before it was clear that it was a separate species. By the way, Quagga became the first extinct animal whose DNA was studied.
12. Steller's cow, completely died out in 1768
This species of sea cows lived near the Asian coast of the Bering Sea. These unusual animals were discovered by the traveler and naturalist Georg Steller in 1741. The gigantic creatures immediately struck 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 left the water on the shore.
These animals had dark, almost black skin, which looked like 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 fed on 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. Irish Deer - a giant deer, 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 back to 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 type of flightless bird that lived on the island of Mauritius. The dodo belonged to the pigeon-like, but differed in its huge size: adults reached up to 1.2 meters in height and weighed up to 50 kg. Dodos ate mostly fruits that fell from trees and built nests on the ground, and given 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 Dodos, there were no predators on the island of Mauritius. This idyll continued until the 17th century, when Europeans landed on the island. Dodo hunting has become the main source of replenishment of ship supplies. With people, dogs, cats and rats were brought to the island, which gladly ate the eggs of helpless birds.
Dodos were helpless in the truest sense of the word: they did not know how to fly, they ran slowly, and hunting for them was reduced to chasing a fleeing bird with a leisurely gait and hitting it on the head with a stick. In addition to everything, the Dodo was trusting like a child and as soon as people beckoned him with fruit, the bird itself approached the most dangerous predator on planet Earth.
15. Thylacine - Marsupial Wolf, completely extinct in 1936
The thylacine was the largest carnivorous marsupial. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian Tiger (because of its striped back) and also as the Wolf of Tasmania. The marsupial wolf was extirpated from the Australian mainland thousands of years before the Europeans settled the continent, but survived in Tasmania, along with other marsupials (such as like the famous Tasmanian Devil).
Thylacines had disgusting meat, but excellent skin. Clothing 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-caused disappearance is passenger pigeon. Once millions of flocks of these birds flew in the skies of North America. Seeing the food, the pigeons rushed down like a huge locust, and when they were satisfied, they flew away, completely destroying fruits, berries, nuts, and insects. Such gluttony irritated the colonists. In addition, the pigeons tasted very good. In one of the novels by Fenimore Cooper, 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, and sometimes even cannons. They killed as many pigeons as they could. Pigeons were laid in glacier cellars, cooked immediately, fed to dogs, or simply thrown away. Even pigeon shooting competitions were organized, and towards the end of the 19th century, machine guns were also used.
The last passenger pigeon, named 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 tours lived out their days in the forests, earlier these bulls kept mainly in the forest-steppe, and often entered the steppe. In the forests, they probably migrated only in winter. They fed on grass, shoots and leaves of trees and shrubs. Their 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 aurochs had few natural enemies: these strong and aggressive animals easily coped with any predator.
In historical times, the tour was found 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 were still found in the Dnieper basin. At that time they were actively exterminated. Records about the difficult and dangerous hunting of wild bulls were left by Vladimir Monomakh.
By 1400, aurochs lived only in relatively sparsely populated and hard-to-reach 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 lands. In 1599, a small herd of aurochs, 24 individuals, still lived in the royal forest 50 km from Warsaw. By 1602, only 4 animals remained in this herd, and in 1627 the last tour on Earth died.
17. Moa
Moa is a flightless bird that looks like an ostrich. Lived in 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 number of Moa began to decline rapidly. Too large, slow birds could not hide from hunters, and by about the 18th century Moa 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 over 500 kilograms, they were real giants. Epiornis lived in Madagascar quite safely until the moment when people did not begin to inhabit it. Before people, they had only one natural enemy - the crocodile. By about the 16th century, the Epiornis, they are also Elephant birds, were completely exterminated.
19. Tarpan
Tarpan was the ancestor of the modern horse. It is hard to believe it, but back in the 18-19 centuries it was widely distributed in the steppes of the European part of Russia, a number of European countries and in the territory of Western Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, tarpan meat was very tasty and people exterminated them for this very reason. The main culprits for the disappearance of tarpans are Catholic monks, who, being horse-eaters, exterminated them in large numbers. Eyewitnesses of these events wrote that the monks mounted fast horses and simply drove the herds of horses. As a result, it was possible to catch only colts that could not endure a long race.
20.Japanese Hondos wolf
The Japanese wolf was distributed on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu of the Japanese archipelago. He was the smallest among all wolves. An epidemic of rabies and extermination by people brought the wolf to extinction. The last Hondo wolf died in 1905.
21. Falkland fox (Falkland wolf)
The Falkland fox was tawny 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 it was uncontrollably shot by hunters because of its thick and valuable fur. In addition, the fox was poisoned, allegedly it posed a great threat to sheep and other domestic animals.
The Falkland wolf had no natural enemies and he naively trusted people, not even imagining that they were the worst enemy. As a result, in 1876 the last fox was killed.
22. Baiji- Chinese river dolphin.
The Chinese river dolphin, which lived in the Yangtze rivers of Asia, was not hunted by people, but was 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.
Reminds me of a penguin. Sailors hunted them, as their meat was tasty, and the production of this bird was not difficult. As a result, in 1912, the latest information about Steller's Cormorant was received.
The population of our planet is increasing year by year, but the number of wild animals, on the contrary, is declining.
Mankind influences the extinction of a large number of animal species by expanding its cities, thereby taking away natural habitats from the fauna. A very important role is played by the fact that people are constantly developing more and more new lands for crops and and.
It should be noted that sometimes the expansion of megacities has a positive effect on some types of animals: rats, pigeons,.
Conservation of biological diversity
At the moment, it is very important to preserve everything, because it was born by nature millions of years ago. The presented diversity of animals is not just a random cluster, but a single coordinated working bunch. The extinction of any species will entail major changes in the entire ecosystem. Each species is very important and unique for our world.
As for endangered unique species of animals and birds, they should be treated with special care and protection. Since they are the most vulnerable and humanity can lose this species at any moment. It is the conservation of rare species of animals that becomes a paramount task for each state and individual in particular.
The main reasons for the loss of various animal species are: the degeneration of the animal habitat; uncontrolled hunting in prohibited areas; destruction of animals to create products; environmental pollution. In all countries of the world there are certain laws on protection against extermination of wild animals, regulating rational hunting and fishing, in Russia there is a law on hunting and use of wildlife.
At the moment, there is the so-called Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, established in 1948, where all rare animals and plants are listed. In the Russian Federation there is a similar one, where a record of endangered species of our country is kept. Thanks to the policy of the state, it was possible to save sables and saiga from extinction, which were on the verge of extinction. Now they are even allowed to hunt. The number of kulans and bison increased.
Saigas could disappear from the face of the Earth
Anxiety about the extinction of biological species is not far-fetched. So if we take the period from the beginning of the seventeenth century to the end of the twentieth (some three hundred years) - 68 species of mammals and 130 species of birds died out.
According to statistics maintained by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one species or subspecies is destroyed each year. Very often, the phenomenon began to occur when partial extinction occurs, that is, disappearance in certain countries. So in Russia in the Caucasus, man contributed to the fact that nine species have already become extinct. Although this happened before: according to the reports of archaeologists, musk oxen were in Russia 200 years ago, and they were recorded in Alaska before 1900. But there are species that we can lose in a short time.
List of endangered animals
3. . The deterioration of environmental conditions, as well as infection from wild dogs, negatively affects the reproduction of sea lions.
4. Cheetah. Farmers kill them as cheetahs prey on livestock. They are also hunted by poachers for their skins.
5. . The reduction of the species occurs due to the degradation of their habitat, the illegal trade of their cubs, and infection.
6. . Their population has been reduced by climate change and poaching.
7. collared sloth. The population is declining due to deforestation.
8. . The main threat is poachers who sell rhinoceros horn on the black market.
9. . The species is being pushed out of its habitat. Animals have a low birth rate in principle.
10. . This species is also a victim of poaching, as ivory is of great value.
eleven. . This species was actively hunted for the sake of the skin and pasture competition.
12. . Changes in the habitat of bears due to global warming affect the decline of the species.
13. . The population is declining due to.
14. . The species has been reduced due to hunting and the danger of bears to humans.
15. . The species is being destroyed due to conflicts with people, active hunting, infectious diseases and climate change.
16. Galapagos tortoise. They were actively destroyed, their habitats were changed. The animals that were brought to the Galapagos had a negative impact on their reproduction.
17. . The species is declining due to natural disasters and poaching.
18. . Reduced population due to shark prey.
19. . The species is dying out due to infectious diseases and habitat changes.
20. . The illegal trade in animal meat and bones has led to a decline in the population.
21. . The population suffers from constant oil spills.
22. . The species is declining due to whaling.
23. . The species has become a victim of poaching.
24. . Animals are suffering due to habitat reduction.
25. . The population is declining due to urbanization processes and active deforestation.
The list of endangered animals is not limited to these species. As you can see, the main threat is a person and the consequences of his activities. There are state programs for the conservation of endangered animals. And everyone can make a contribution to the conservation of endangered animal species.
Some changes are constantly taking place on the planet, from the most insignificant to the most global. Climate change and the process of human life - deforestation, hunting for animals, clogging of nature with waste, all this has a very detrimental effect on the animal world. Animals not only suffer from all this, but die out right before our eyes. Red Book endangered animals is replenished every day, and there are already several hundred species in the list of animals that have completely disappeared from the earth. According to the World Conservation Union, in 2008, 844 species of animals have completely died out over the past 500 years. In this issue, we present several species of extinct animals due to human fault. Maybe, remembering this selection of photographs of extinct species of animals, the next time you collect your garbage after a hike in the forest.
Extinct species of animals, which, one way or another, contributed to the person.
Thylacine- Tasmanian marsupial tiger.
The thylacine closely resembled a dog with a long tail and stripes on its back. The thylacine or Tasmanian marsupial tiger became extinct when settlers invaded its range. There is evidence that Thylacine was so unprepared to meet people that he could die not only from his wounds, but also from the shock he received.
Zebra Quagga.
For the sake of the strong, beautiful skin of this animal, people exterminated the entire population of the Quagga zebra. The meat of an extinct animal was simply thrown away, since it was not an object of hunting. At the Dutch Zoo in Amsterdam, the last specimen of this animal died on August 12, 1883.
baiji- Chinese river dolphin.
The Chinese river dolphin, which lived in the Yangtze rivers, was not hunted by people, but was 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.
golden frog.
The very species of the Golden Frog was found in 1966. Lived in Monteverde, Costa Rica. For a long time, the ideal temperature and humidity for the life of this creature were preserved there, but human activity violated the usual environmental parameters, which led to the extinction of this species of frog. The last Golden Frog was observed in 1989.
Passenger pigeon.
Once upon a time, there were a lot of Passenger Pigeons. Therefore, people did not appreciate what they had. They were exterminated thoughtlessly. These pigeons were very affordable and were cheap food for the poor. In just one century, the Passenger Pigeon suddenly died out to Americans. For a long time they searched for the reasons for the extinction of the bird, which was so incomprehensible to them, and composed all sorts of implausible stories, but there was only one answer - they simply exterminated the Passenger Pigeon. The last pigeon died on September 1, 1914 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Dodo
Dodo - a bird that has lost the ability to fly, lived on the island of Mauritius. European colonists hunted the bird for its delicious meat, and besides, its nests were destroyed by cats and pigs brought from the mainland. The last bird was destroyed in 1680.
parrot
Hunters constantly hunted the Carolina parrot and mercilessly exterminated it because they harmed fruit trees. As a result, only one pair remained at the Cincinnati Zoo, but both individuals died in 1917-1918.
Steller cow or sea cow- a mammal belonging to the order of sirens. It looked like a Manatee, only bigger. Once they swam in large herds at the very surface of the water and fed on seaweed, which also floats on the surface. Steller's cow began to be eaten, its meat was valued for a very pleasant taste. For thirty years of hunting for a sea cow, she was completely exterminated. According to various accounts, the last sea cows were seen in the 1970s.
Steller's cormorant
Reminds me of a penguin. Sailors hunted them, as their meat was tasty, and the production of this bird was not difficult. As a result, in 1912, the latest information about Steller's Cormorant was received.
great auk. Exterminated in 1844 on the island of Eldey, near Iceland.
Turan tiger. Another extinct species. The last tiger was killed in 1922 near Tbilisi.
At the end of this gloomy post, I propose to watch the video - The last shooting of the extinct Thylacine or the Tasmanian marsupial tiger:
Biocontrol veterinary clinic will help your pet if you are in trouble - dysplasia in cats. Only professionals who will help your pet.