Animals that no longer exist. Animals that have disappeared due to human fault
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.
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.
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.
World Animal Day, designed to unite the efforts of people in the conservation of the animal world of our planet and in the protection of the rights of domestic animals, is celebrated on October 4th. Every day, dozens of representatives of flora and fauna disappear on Earth. One of the ways to fight for the conservation of biodiversity on our planet is the protection of rare and endangered species of plants and animals.
Snow leopard (irbis)- a rare, rare species. In the Red Book of the Russian Federation, he was assigned the first category - "a species that is endangered at the limit of its range." The total number of snow leopards in Russia, according to WWF (World Wildlife Fund) experts, is no more than 80-100 individuals.
Amur tiger- one of the rarest predators on the planet, the largest tiger in the world, the only representative of the species living in the snow. The Amur tiger is listed in the International Red Book; in Russia, these animals live only in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories. According to the latest census, the population of a rare animal in the Russian Federation has about 450 individuals.
Far Eastern leopard- a subspecies of leopards of the class of mammals, the order of carnivores, the cat family. This is one of the rarest felines in the world. Many experts consider the Far Eastern leopard the most beautiful subspecies of leopards and often compare it with the snow leopard. The south of Primorsky Krai is the only habitat of the Far Eastern leopard in Russia. According to the latest census, about 50 leopards currently live in the Ussuri taiga. Scientists in many countries and WWF are concerned about the conservation of an endangered species.
manul- a rare predator of the steppes and semi-steppes of Eurasia - is listed in the international and Russian Red Books. This wild cat has a status close to threatened. According to scientists, the number of animals is declining. In addition, it is threatened by poachers, there is a threat of the disappearance of suitable habitats. The northernmost habitat of this animal is located in Russia, here the manul is found mainly in the mountain-steppe and desert-steppe landscapes of the southeast of the Altai Republic, in the republics of Tuva, Buryatia, and also in the southeastern part of the Trans-Baikal Territory.
komodo dragon- a species of lizard from the monitor lizard family, the largest lizard in the world fauna. According to one hypothesis, it was the monitor lizards of the Indonesian island of Komodo that served as the prototype of the Chinese dragon: an adult Varanus Komodoensis can exceed three meters in length and weigh more than one and a half centners. This largest lizard on Earth, which kills a deer with one blow of its tail, is found only in Indonesia and is among the endangered species of animals.
Over the past 20 years, the number Sumatran rhinos decreased by about 50% - due to poaching and deforestation of tropical forests. Currently, only about 200 representatives of this species live in Southeast Asia. In total, five species of rhinos are known in the world: three in South and Southeast Asia and two in Africa. All species of rhinos are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. WWF reported in October this year that one species of rhinoceros, the Javan rhinoceros, had been completely wiped out in Vietnam.
Loggerhead- a species of sea turtles, the only representative of the loggerhead genus, or big-headed sea turtles. This species is widespread in the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, in the Mediterranean Sea, the loggerhead can be found in the Far East (Peter the Great Bay) and in the Barents Sea (near Murmansk). The meat of this turtle was considered far from being the most delicious, only local tribes eat it, but its eggs were a delicacy. Their unlimited collection has led to a very serious decline in the number of this species of turtles over the past 50-100 years. This species of turtle is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and in the Red Book, protected by the laws of Cyprus, Greece, USA, Italy.
Sea otter or sea otter, is a predatory marine mammal of the weasel family, a species close to otters. The sea otter has a number of unique features of adaptation to the marine environment, and is also one of the few non-primate animals that use tools. Sea otters live on the northern shores of the Pacific Ocean in Russia, Japan, the USA and Canada. In the XVIII-XIX centuries, sea otters were subjected to predatory extermination due to their valuable fur, as a result of which the species was on the verge of extinction. In the twentieth century, sea otters were listed in the Red Book of the USSR, as well as in the security documents of other countries. As of 2009, sea otter hunting is virtually banned in all regions of the world. It is allowed to hunt sea otters only to the indigenous population of Alaska - the Aleuts and Eskimos, and only to maintain folk crafts and food rations that have historically developed in this region.
bison is the heaviest and largest land mammal on the European continent and the last European representative of wild bulls. Its length is 330 cm, the height at the withers is up to two meters, and the weight reaches one ton. The destruction of forests, the growing density of human settlements and intensive hunting in the 17th and 18th centuries exterminated the bison in almost all countries of Europe. At the beginning of the 19th century, wild bison apparently remained only in two regions: in the Caucasus and in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The number of animals was about 500 and decreased over the course of a century, despite the protection of the Russian authorities. In 1921, as a result of anarchy during and after the First World War, bison were finally destroyed by poachers. As a result of the purposeful activity of many specialists, as of December 31, 1997, there were 1096 bison in captivity (zoos, nurseries and other reserves) in the world, and 1829 individuals in free populations. The IUCN Red Book classifies this species as vulnerable; on the territory of Russia, the Red Book (1998) put bison in category 1 - endangered.
african wild dog, or, as it is also called, hyena-like, was once distributed throughout the African steppes and savannas south of the Sahara - from southern Algeria and Sudan to the extreme southern tip of the continent. The hyena-like dog is included in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as a small species that is endangered.
Florida cougar, along with the rest of its subspecies, is listed in the International Red Book. Hunting for it is prohibited, in addition, the animal is included in Appendix II of the CITES convention, which regulates the trade in rare species of animals. Previously, the cougar inhabited territories in the south of North America, as well as Central and South America up to Chile. At the same time, a separate population existed in Florida. In the 60s of the last century, due to the shooting and development of natural areas, the number of Florida cougars decreased to 20-30 individuals. Thanks to conservation efforts, these small wild cats with their characteristic long legs have a population of 100-160 now.
California condor- a very rare species of birds from the family of American vultures. The California condor was once distributed throughout the North American continent. In 1987, when the last free-living condor was caught, their total number was 27 individuals. However, due to good breeding in captivity, since 1992 they began to be released again. As of November 2010, there were 381 condors, including 192 birds in the wild.
orangutans- representatives of arboreal apes, one of the close relatives of man. Unfortunately, orangutans are endangered in the wild, mainly due to ongoing habitat destruction. Despite the creation of national parks, deforestation continues. Another major threat is poaching.
Last wild Przewalski's horses disappeared from nature in the 1960s, by that time they remained only in the desert regions of Dzungaria - on the border of China and Mongolia. But a thousand or more years ago, these animals were widespread in the steppe zone of Eurasia. Currently, there are only about two thousand individuals kept in zoos in the world. About 300-400 more horses live in the steppes of Mongolia and China, also originating from animals from zoos.
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:
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Most of the people of the planet think and act, as it was said by the great Louis XV - "After me, even a flood." From such behavior, humanity loses all those gifts, so generously provided to us by the Earth.
There is such a thing as a book. It keeps records of representatives of flora and fauna, which are currently considered endangered species and are under the reliable protection of people. There are also black book of animals. This unique book lists all the animals and plants that have disappeared from planet Earth since 1500.
The latest statistics are horrifying, they say that over the past 500 years, 844 species of fauna and about 1000 species of flora have disappeared forever.
The fact that all of them really existed was confirmed by cultural monuments, stories of naturalists and travelers. They were indeed recorded alive at that time.
At the same time, they remained only in pictures and in stories. They no longer exist in a living form, which is why this edition is called " The Black Book of Extinct Animals.
All of them are blacklisted, which in turn is on the Red List. The middle of the last century is significant in that people had the idea to create the Red Book of Animals and Plants.
With its help, scientists are trying to reach out to the public and consider the problem of the disappearance of many species of flora and fauna not at the level of a couple of people, but together, by the whole world. This is the only way to achieve positive results.
Unfortunately, such a move did not really help to solve this issue, and the lists of endangered animals and plants are replenished more and more every year. Nevertheless, the researchers have a glimmer of hope that people should someday come to their senses and animals listed in the black book, will no longer be added to her lists.
The unreasonable and barbarous attitude of people to all natural resources has led to such terrible consequences. All the names in the Red and Black Books are not just records, they are a cry for help to all the inhabitants of our planet, a kind of request to stop using natural resources for purely personal purposes.
With the help of these records, a person should understand how important his respect for nature is. After all, the world around us is so beautiful and helpless at the same time.
Looking through list of Black Book Animals, people are horrified to realize that many of the animal species that found themselves in it have disappeared from the face of the earth through the fault of mankind. Be that as it may, directly or indirectly, they became victims of humanity.
The Black Book of Disappeared Animals contains so many names that it is simply unrealistic to consider them within the framework of one article. But their most interesting representatives still deserve attention.
This name came to their mind due to the fact that the animals ate exclusively sea grass. The cows were huge and slow. They weighed at least 10 tons.
And the meat was not only tasty, but also useful. There was nothing difficult in hunting these giants. They grazed near the water without any fear, eating sea grass.
The animals were not shy and they were not afraid of people at all. All this led to the fact that literally within 30 years after the arrival of the expedition to the mainland, the population of Steller's cows was completely exterminated by bloodthirsty hunters.
Steller's cow
Caucasian bison
The Black Book of Animals includes another amazing animal called the Caucasian bison. There were times when these mammals were more than enough.
They could be seen on the ground from the Caucasus mountains to northern Iran. For the first time people learned about this species of animals in the 17th century. The decrease in the number of Caucasians was greatly influenced by human activity, its uncontrolled and greedy behavior towards these animals.
Pastures for their grazing became less and less, and the animal itself was destroyed due to the fact that it had very tasty meat. The skin of Caucasian bison was also valued among people.
This turn of events led to the fact that by 1920 there were no more than 100 individuals in the population of these animals. The government finally decided to take urgent measures to preserve this species, and in 1924 a special reserve was created for them.
Only 15 individuals of this species survived to this happy day. But the protected area did not frighten or embarrass the bloodthirsty poachers, who even there continued to hunt for a valuable animal. As a result, the last Caucasian bison was killed in 1926.
Caucasian bison
Transcaucasian tiger
People exterminated everyone who got in their way. It could be not only defenseless animals, but also dangerous predators. Among such animals in the list of the Black Book is the Transcaucasian tiger, the last of which was destroyed by man in 1957.
This wonderful predatory animal weighed about 270 kg, had a beautiful, long fur, painted in a rich bright red color. These predators could be found in Iran, Pakistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey.
Scientists believe that the Transcaucasian and are close relatives. In places of Central Asia, this species of animals disappeared due to the appearance of Russian settlers there. In their opinion, this tiger was a great danger to people, so hunting was open for it.
It even got to the point that the regular army was engaged in the extermination of this predator. The last representative of this species was destroyed by man in 1957 somewhere in the region of Turkmenistan.
Pictured is a Transcaucasian tiger
Rodriguez parrot
They were first described in 1708. The habitat was the Mascarene Islands, which were located nearby. The length of this bird was at least 0.5 meters. She had a bright plumage of orange tones, which practically caused the death of the feathered one.
It was because of the feather that people opened the hunt for the bird and exterminated it in incredible quantities. As a result of such a great "love" of people for Rodrigues parrots, by the 18th century there was not a trace of them left.
In the photo of the Rodriguez parrot
Falkland fox
Some animals did not disappear immediately. It took years, even decades. But there were also those with whom a person dealt with without much pity and in the shortest possible time. It is to these unfortunate creatures that the Falkland and wolves belong.
From the information of travelers and museum exhibits, it is known that this animal had insanely beautiful brown fur. The height of the animal was about 60 cm. A distinctive feature of these was their barking.
Yes, the animal made sounds very strongly reminiscent of barking. In 1860, foxes caught the eye of the Scots, who immediately appreciated their expensive and amazing fur. From that moment began the brutal shooting of the animal.
In addition, gases and poisons were used against them. But despite such persecution, the foxes were too friendly towards people, they made contact with them without any problems and even became excellent pets in some families.
The last Falkland fox was destroyed in 1876. It took a man only 16 years to completely destroy this animal of amazing beauty. Only museum exhibits remained in his memory.
Falkland fox
Dodo
This wonderful bird was mentioned in the work "Alice in Wonderland". There they had the name Dodo. These birds were quite large. Their height was at least 1 meter, and they weighed 10-15 kg. They had absolutely no ability to fly, they only moved on the ground, like.
Dodos had a long, strong, pointed beak, against which small wings created a very strong contrast. Their limbs, in contrast to the wings, were relatively large.
These birds inhabited the island of Mauritius. For the first time it became known from the Dutch navigators, who first appeared on the island in 1858. Since then, the persecution of the bird began because of its delicious meat.
Moreover, they were committed not only by people, but also by domestic animals. This behavior of people and their pets led to the complete extermination of dodos. Their last representative was seen in 1662 on Mauritanian soil.
It took less than a century for a person to completely wipe out these amazing birds from the face of the earth. It was after this that people began to realize for the first time that they could be the primary cause of the extinction of entire populations of animals.
In the photo dodo
Thylacine marsupial wolf
For the first time this interesting animal was seen in 1808 by the British. Most of the marsupial wolves could be found in, from which at one time they were driven out by wild dingo dogs.
Wolf populations were saved only where these dogs did not exist. The beginning of the 19th century was yet another catastrophe for animals. All farmers decided that the wolf causes great harm to their economy, which was the reason for their extermination.
By 1863, there were much fewer wolves. They moved to hard-to-reach places. This solitude most likely would have saved the marsupial wolves from certain death, if not for an unknown adventure of an epidemic that exterminated most of these animals.
Of these, only a small handful remained, which again failed in 1928. At this time, a list of animals was compiled that needed the protection of mankind.
Unfortunately, it was not included in this list, which led to their complete disappearance. Six years after that, the last marsupial wolf that lived on the territory of a private zoo died of old age.
But people still have a glimmer of hope that, nevertheless, somewhere far from a person, a population of a marsupial wolf hid and we will someday see them not in the picture.
Thylacine marsupial wolf
Quagga
The quagga belongs to the subspecies. They are distinguished from their relatives by a unique color. At the front of the animal, the color is striped, at the back it is monophonic. According to scientists, it was the quagga that was the only animal that a person could tame.
The quagga had amazingly fast reactions. They could instantly suspect the danger awaiting them and the herd of cattle grazing nearby and warn everyone about it.
This quality was appreciated by farmers even more than dogs. The reason why the quaggs were destroyed is still not clear. The last animal died in 1878.
Pictured is a quagga animal
Man was not directly involved in the death of this miracle that lives in. But indirect interference in the range of dolphins served this purpose. The river in which these amazing people lived was flooded with ships, and even polluted.
Until 1980, there were at least 400 dolphins in this river, but already in 2006 not a single one was seen, which was confirmed by the International Expedition. In captivity, dolphins could not breed.
baizi chinese river dolphin
golden frog
This unique jumper was first discovered, it can be said quite recently - in 1966. But after a couple of decades, she absolutely disappeared. The problem is that she lived in places in Costa Rica, where climatic conditions did not change for many years.
Due to global warming and, of course, human activity, the air in the habitual habitat of the frog began to change significantly. It was unbearably difficult for the frogs to endure and they gradually disappeared. The last golden frog was seen in 1989.
Pictured is a golden frog
Passenger pigeon
Initially, there were so many of these wonderful birds that people did not even think about their mass extermination. People liked meat, they were also pleased that it was so easily accessible.
They massively fed the slaves and the poor. It took literally one century for the birds to cease to exist. This event was so unexpected for all mankind that people still cannot recover. How this happened, they still do not understand.
Passenger pigeon
crested thick-billed pigeon
This beautiful and amazing bird lived in the Solomon Islands. The reason for the disappearance of these were brought to their habitats. Almost nothing is known about the behavior of birds. They are said to have spent more time on the ground than in the air.
The birds were too trusting and went to their hunters just into the hands. But it was not people who exterminated them, but the homeless, for whom crested thick-billed pigeons were the most favorite delicacy.
crested thick-billed pigeon
great auk
This flightless bird was immediately appreciated by people due to the palatability of the meat and the excellent quality of the down. When the birds became less and less behind them, in addition to poachers, collectors also began to hunt. The latter was seen in Iceland and killed in 1845.
Pictured is a wingless auk
Paleopropitec
These animals belonged to and lived in the Madagascar Islands. Their weight sometimes reached up to 56 kg. They were large and slow lemurs, preferring to live in trees. To move through the trees, the animals used all four limbs.
On the ground they moved with great clumsiness. They ate mainly leaves and fruits of trees. The mass extermination of these lemurs began upon the arrival of the Malays in Madagascar and due to multiple changes in their habitat.
Paleopropitec
Epiornis
These huge non-flying birds lived in Madagascar. They could reach up to 5 meters in height and weigh about 400 kg. The length of their eggs reaches up to 32 cm, with a volume of up to 9 liters, which is 160 times more than a chicken egg. The last Epioris was killed in 1890.
In the photo epiornis
Bali tiger
These predators disappeared in the 20th century. They lived in Bali. There were no special problems or threats to the life of animals. Their numbers were constantly kept at the same level. All conditions favored their carefree life.
For local residents, this beast was a mystical creature with almost black magic. Out of fear, people could only kill those individuals that posed a great danger to their livestock.
For the sake of interest or fun, they never hunted tigers. he was also careful with people and did not engage in cannibalism. This continued until 1911.
At this time, thanks to the great hunter and adventurer Oscar Voynich, it did not occur to him to open a hunt for Bali tigers. People massively began to follow his example and after 25 years the animals were gone. The last one was destroyed in 1937.
Bali tiger
heather grouse
These birds lived in England. They had a small brain, correspondingly slow reaction. The seeds were used for food. Their worst enemies were other predators.
There were several reasons for the disappearance of these birds. In their habitats, infectious diseases of unknown origin appeared, which mowed down too many individuals.
The land was gradually plowed up, periodically the area in which these birds lived was subjected to fires. All this was the cause of the death of heathers. People made many attempts to save these amazing birds, but by 1932 they were gone.
heather grouse
Tour
The tour was about cows. They could be found in Poland, Belarus and Prussia. The last tours lived in Poland. They were huge, thick-set ones, but comparatively taller than them.
The meat and skins of these animals were highly valued by people, and this was the reason for their complete disappearance. In 1627, the last representative of the tours was killed.
The same thing could happen to bison and if people did not understand the gravity of their sometimes thoughtless actions and did not take them under their reliable protection.
In the photo animal tour
Bare-breasted kangaroo
In another way, it is also called a kangaroo rat. The habitat of such, like many other fairly unique animals, was Australia. With this animal was not all right initially. The first descriptions of it appeared in 1843.
In unknown Australian places, people caught three specimens of this species and named them bare-breasted kangaroos. Literally until 1931, nothing more was known about the animals found. After that they disappeared again from the field of view of people and are still considered dead.
Pictured is a bare-breasted kangaroo
mexican grizzly bear
They could be found everywhere - in Canada, as well as in. This is a subspecies of the bear. The animal was a huge bear. He had small ears and a high forehead.
By decision of the ranchers, grizzlies began to be exterminated in the 60s of the XX century. In their opinion, the grizzlies posed a great danger to their domestic animals, in particular livestock. In 1960, there were still about 30 of them. But in 1964, none of these 30 individuals remained.
mexican grizzly bear
Tarpan
This European wild can be observed in European countries, in Russia and Kazakhstan. The animal was large. Their height at the withers was about 136 cm, and the body was up to 150 cm long. Their mane stuck out, and their hair was thick and wavy, had a black-brown, yellow-brown or dirty yellow color.
In winter, the coat became significantly lighter. On the dark limbs of the tarpans were hooves so strong that they did not need horseshoes. The last tarpan was destroyed by a man in the Kaliningrad region in 1814. These animals remained in captivity, but later they were gone.
Pictured is a tarpan
barbary lion
This king of beasts could be found in territories from Morocco to Egypt. Barbary lions were the largest of their kind. It was impossible not to notice their thick dark mane, hanging from their shoulders and down to their stomachs. The death of the last of this wild beast dates back to 1922.
Researchers claim that their descendants exist in nature, but they are not purebred and mixed with others. During gladiator fights in Rome, these animals were used.
barbary lion
Black Cameroonian rhinoceros
Until recently, there were many representatives of this species. They lived in the savanna south of the Sahara. But the power of poaching was so great that they were exterminated despite the fact that the animals were under reliable protection.
Rhinos were exterminated because of their horns, which had medicinal qualities. This is what most of the population assumes, but there is no scientific confirmation of these assumptions. In 2006, people last observed rhinos, after which in 2011 they were officially recognized as extinct animals.
Black Cameroonian rhinoceros
The unique elephant tortoises were considered among the largest extinct in recent times. They were from a family of long-livers. The last survivor of Pinta Island died in 2012. At that time he was 100 years old, he died of heart failure.
Abingdon elephant tortoise
Caribbean monk seal
This handsome man lived near the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, in Honduras, Cuba and the Bahamas. Although the Caribbean monk seals led a solitary life, they were of great industrial value, which in the end served as their complete disappearance from the face of the earth. The last Caribbean was observed in 1952, but only since 2008 they are considered officially extinct.
Pictured is a Caribbean monk seal
Literally, until recently, it did not occur to a person that he really is the real master of his Earth and it depends only on him who and what will surround him. In the 20th century, this realization came to people that much that happened to the smaller brothers could not be called otherwise than vandalism.
Recently, a lot of work has been carried out, explanatory conversations in which people are trying to convey the full importance of this or that species, which is still listed in the Red Book. I would like to believe that every person will come to the realization that we are responsible for everything and the list of the Black Book of animals will not be replenished with any of the species.