10 Species You Didn’t Know Were Driven to Extinction by Humans
Our species’ devastating impact on the planet is undeniable; the extinction rate of the Earth’s species is one of the most defining examples that support this fact. In the last 40 years, around 50 percent of the Earth’s species have been lost as a result of habitat loss and unsustainable hunting, according to a WWF analysis.
Experts estimate the rapid loss of species is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate, leading many to question the fate of our planet in the wake of the current mass extinction.
“Unlike past mass extinctions, caused by events like asteroid strikes, volcanic eruptions and natural climate shifts, the current crisis is almost entirely caused by us — humans,” explains the Center for Biological Diversity. “In fact, 99 percent of currently threatened species are at risk from human activities, primarily those driving habitat loss, introduction of exotic species and global warming.”
While many of these threatened species are recognized by many – the elephant, rhino, silverback gorilla – the majority of the species that meet their end go unnoticed. Here are 10 recently extinct species that you are likely not familiar with.
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West African Black Rhinoceros
A sub-species of the Black Rhinoceros, the West African Black Rhinoceros was driven to extinction by poaching and the rising demand for rhino horn. The last of the species was sighted in 2006, in Cameroon. The sub-species was declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species just 5 years later.
Dusky Seaside Sparrow
A victim of habitat loss, the Dusky Seaside Sparrow was a song bird commonly found in Southern Florida. The last five remaining Dusky Seaside Sparrows, all of which were male, were captured and brought to the Discover Island nature reserve in the Walt Disney World Resort in 1979. All five of the remaining birds lived out their final days in the reserve, with the last Dusky Seaside Sparrow, named “Orange Band,” finally meeting its end in 1987.
The Dusky Seaside Sparrow’s numbers began to significantly decline shortly after the sparrows’ nesting grounds were flooded in an attempt to reduce mosquito populations around Kennedy Space Center. Habitat loss, pollution and pesticides are believed to have contributed to the birds’ continuing drop in numbers.
Japanese Sea Lion
Hunted in order to harvest their skins, whiskers, internal organs, and oil, the Japanese Sea Lion was last confirmed to be alive in 1951, where a population of 50 to 60 sea lions were seen on Takeshima Island.
The species population saw a dramatic decline following the early decades of the 20th century, due to over-harvesting. In addition to being hunted, the Japanese Sea Lion was often shot by persecuting fishermen, and also captured for the circus trade.
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Mariana Mallard
Endemic to the Western Pacific islands of Guam, Tinian, Saipan, the Mariana Mallard is a species of duck that was declared extinct in 2004. The last recorded sighting of the Mariana Mallard dates back to 1981.
Although little is known about the species, it is believed over-hunting and habitat loss was caused by the alteration of the land, by bombs and artillery in 1944, and local urban development.
Pinta Island Tortoise
The Pinta Island Tortoise, a subspecies of the giant tortoise, was native to its respective Galapagos island. The Pinta Island Tortoise’s impending extinction gained worldwide attention through the story of Lonesome George, the last surviving Pinta Island Tortoise, who was found in 1972 and transferred to the Charles Darwin Research Center.
Lonesome George died in 2012, in the prime of his life. The sub-species can live to the age of around 200 years. It is uncertain what caused Lonesome George’s untimely death, however, it is suspected that he may have suffered a heart attack.
Great Auk
Once a robust species, the Great Auk was driving to extinction by over-hunting. Valued for their meat and feathers, this unusual flightless bird could be found across the North Atlantic seas. Although the bird closely resembles a penguin – in fact, it was regarded as the “original penguin” – the species is a sea bird.
As the bird was flightless and clumsy on land, the Great Auk was unable to flee from pursuing humans. The last of the Great Auk species were killed in June 1844 at Eldey Island, Iceland.
The Golden Toad
The Golden Toad was formally a common species in Reserva Biológica Monteverde, Costa Rica. Once abundant in the elfin cloud forest, the Golden Toad suffered a dramatic population decline due to global warming, airborne pollution and its restricted range.
According to reports, the species last bred in normal numbers in 1987. The last Golden Toad, a male, was seen in 1989. Since then, extensive searchers of well-known breeding sights have shown no success. The species was later declared extinct in 2004.
Javan Tiger
Renowned for their long whiskers, the Javan Tiger is a sub-species that was native to the Indonesian island of Java. Smaller than their mainland cousins, the Java Tiger was driven to extinction by deforestation. In 1938, as much as 23 percent of the island was covered in natural forest; however, by 1975, as little as 2 percent of the forest remained.
The species faced additional strain when its most important prey species, the Rusa Deer, were lost to disease in a number of reserves and forests during the 1960s. The Javan Tiger became extinct by 1970.
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Baiji Dolphin
The Baiji Dolphin, also knows at the Chinese River Dolphin, is a freshwater dolphin that was found in the Yangtze River, China. The only living representative of the family Lipotidae, the Baiji Dolphin gave us a unique insight to the evolution of whales, dolphins and porpoises. The species’ untimely demise marked the end of an entire family of mammals.
Declared extinct in 2006, the Baiji Dolphin population declined rapidly over the course of 50 years due to pollution and unsustainable by-catch cause by destructive fishing methods.
The Gastric-Brooding Frog
Known for its unusual reproduction methods, the gastric-brooding frog is believed to have become extinct in 1983. This moderately large aquatic frog has not been recorded in the wild since 1981. Native to Australia, the gastric-brooding frog could be found in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest communities of Blackall Range, Conondale Range and D’Aguilar Range.
Although it is still uncertain what caused their decline, it is believed disease, upstream water disturbances and logging contributed to the frog’s demise. In 2013, researchers successfully used genome technology to bring back the extinct species. Although the project’s resulting embryos survived past a few days, the initial success has given scientists a platform to save threatened species, and even bring some of the world’s extinct animals back into existence.
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