7 species of animals that have been extinct by humans in the last 100 years. It turns out there really is a golden toad!
Over the past few decades, some species have gone extinct thanks to human intervention. Sometimes this interference is direct, a large poaching game or an animal fangs. Sometimes, it is indirect, including destructive land development and climate change issues.
1, the red handfish, a close relative of the now extinct smooth handfish, was abundant in the waters surrounding Australia only 200 years ago. Named for its striking resemblance to human arms and hands, this smooth handfish was declared extinct in 2020 and has a very punk rock mohawk-style spike on its head.
Cause of extinction: Although the exact cause of extinction is unknown, scientists speculate that habitat loss and destructive fishing for other marine life, such as scallops, are linked to their deaths.
2, Spixar macaws, which are thought to be extinct in the wild, are currently in captivity, and their numbers range from 60 to 80. This bird is also known as the "little blue macaw" because of their vibrant blue feathers.
Causes of Extinction: Due to habitat destruction, illegal trapping and trade, the Spixar macaw became extinct in the wild.
3, Thylacine
The thylacine, a carnivore also known as the Tasmanian tiger and tasmanian wolf, is a (mostly) nocturnal marsupial that preys on rodents and kangaroos.
While thylacines may seem ferocious, they are actually very timid, and over the past century reports of thylacine sightings have been so frequent that they have sparked investigations into their existence.
Causes of extinction: In addition to human overhunting, wild dog populations are believed to threaten the extinction of thylacines.
4, It is estimated that when the first Europeans began to settle in the Americas, the number of passenger pigeons reached millions – perhaps even billions. Wisconsin was home to the largest known nesting site in the late 1800s, the report said.
The cause of the extinction: Humans hunted the pigeon and consumed it to the point of extinction, and the last known bird died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
5, Spotted donkey native to South Africa, extinct at the end of the 19th century. For a long time, the zebra was considered its own species, and it was later discovered that it was closely related to the plain zebra and was actually a subspecies of the zebra. It looks like a mash-up between two animals – the zebra is in the front, thanks to a unique set of stripes, and the horse is in the back.
Scientists are trying to resurrect zebras and have had some success through reverse engineering to selectively breed zebras (carrying zebra genes).
Cause of extinction: Humans hunt donkeys until they become extinct.
6, the golden toad is not the only species that has disappeared in the last 40 years, but it may be the most shiny. The little toad was last seen in the rainforest of Costa Rica in 1989 and was declared extinct in 1994. Chytridiosis is believed to be a deadly skin disease due to what science calls "limited habitat and small population." ”
Causes of extinction: Pollution, global warming and skin infections with Chytridium cause the species to become extinct.
7, Javanese tiger appearance is similar to Sumatran tiger, native to the Indonesian island of Java. In the 1800s, they were so common that they were considered pests by the island's natives, but as the island developed, their population decreased. By the 1950s, there were only 20 tigers left.
Causes of extinction: Habitat loss and agricultural development have led to a severe decline in population. Conservation efforts in the 1940s and 1950s were unsuccessful due to a lack of adequate land and planning.
