Evolution is a part of our lives! If you don’t evolve, you soon become extinct. Over the years, a large number of species have lost their existence from the earth’s surface due to direct or indirect human interference. For instance, imbalance in the ecosystems, disruption of lands and animal poaching, all together contribute to the extinction of certain species from earth.
Here, lets spin back time and have a look at some of those incredible species that lived freely in the world, but are now extinct.
THE NORTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS
Cause of Extinction: Loss of habitat and poaching.
On March 19th 2018, the world’s last male white rhino died at an old age of 45. Sudan, was constantly under armed guard to keep him safe from poachers at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, but lost his life due to old age and an infection. Now, the remaining two white rhinos that happen to exist are female and cannot birth babies to introduce a new generation of white rhinos in the world. However, scientists are believed to be working on harvesting sex cells and also IVF for creating a lab-created white rhino.
THE SPIX MACAW
Cause of Extinction: Habitat destruction and illegal trapping
Believed to be extinct in the deep wild forests, the Spix Macaw now exists only in captivity and has only 60-80 beings alive. The bird is also referred to as the Little Blue Macaw and is worldly known for its beautiful vibrant blue colored feathers.
THE THYLACINE
Cause of Extinction: Killed by the Dingo population due to hunting.
A nocturnal carnivore, the Thylacine is also known as the Tasmanian tiger or the Tasmanian wolf that preyed mostly kangaroos and small rodents. Although they looked fierce, the Thylacine was believed to be a very timid animal that could be easily caught without much resistance.
THE QUAGGA
Cause of Extinction: Humans who hunted the species into extinction
A native animal of South Africa, the Quagga became extinct sometime in the 19th century. The species was a mash up between zebra (front features) and a horse (back features) that was believed to be a unique species for its features. However, later it was stated to be a sub species of Zebra that explained its stripes.
PYRENEAN IBEX
Cause of Extinction: Excessive hunting by humans in the 19th century
It was the year 2000 when the Pyrenean Ibex went completely extinct. However, the species was again resurrected using DNA samples via genetic engineering by scientists and the first clone of a female Pyrenean ibex successfully made it through its gestation period and was born in 2009, but only lived shortly due to a lung deformity.
THE GOLDEN TOAD
Cause of Extinction: Global warming and pollution that caused chytrid skin infections on the species.
Probably one of the brightest species that went extinct in the past century, the Golden Toad was last seen in 1989 in the deep dark Costa Rican Rainforests, before it was pronounced extinct in 1994. Scientists believed that the species suffered from chytridiomycosis, a fatal skin condition that resulted to its extinction. The species was already endangered due to its small population and limited habitat.
ZANZIBAR LEOPARD
Cause of Extinction: Aggressively hunted down by locals as they believed that the Zanzibar leopard was kept by witches.
A subspecies of leopard, the Zanzibar Leopard lived in the archipelago of Tanzania. It is not very clear as to when the species went extinct, as unconfirmed sightings of the animal are occasionally mentioned. In 2018, footage was released by Animal Planet showing an animal that was believed to be a Zanzibar leopard.
