It happened to the dinosaurs, most likely because of a meteor strike, and now all that’s left are fossils. It happened to the mastodons, possibly because their icy climate overheated.
Evolutionary biologists will tell you that it has happened to 99.9% of all species that have ever walked the earth: Extinction, the death of not just an individual, but the last individual of an entire species. And in the last 20 years, most of the extinctions we’ve seen have been due, in some part, to human behavior.
What many don’t realize is that many species are recently extinct. Only today, instead of a catastrophic meteor strike or a gigantic volcanic eruption, the primary threat today is us: Our growing population, our development of once-wild areas, our pollution, and even our globe-trotting ways, since many native species suffer when foreign competitors or predators are introduced.
Here we profile a few of the extinctions that have been documented in the last two decades or so. Take a look, then see these 10 things you can do to help endangered species.
Golden Toad (1989)
The Golden Toad: It’s not the only species to disappear in the span of time it takes one American to reach the drinking age — but it might just be the brightest.
This fluorescent amphibian was found in the high altitude ridges of Costa Rica, but thanks to pollution, global warming, and fungal skin infections, the species became extinct in 1989.
It’s not the only toad in trouble. Frogs, toads, and salamanders worldwide are going extinct at such a fast clip in recent years that some have termed it an “amphibian crisis.” In 2008, the world recognized the issue with the Year of the Frog. Which isn’t to say all the news about amphibians is bad: Recently, 10 new species of frogs and other amphibians were discovered in Colombia.
Photo: Charles H. Smith / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
West African Black Rhinoceros (2006)
The majestic West African Black Rhino was declared extinct in 2006, after conservationists failed to find any in their last remaining habitat in Cameroon. The West African black rhino was one of four subspecies of rhinoceros.
Cause of extinction: Poachers hunted the rhino for its horn, which is believed by some people in Yemen and China to possess aphrodisiac powers.
Photo: Sideog / Flickr
Zanzibar Leopard (1996)
One of several subspecies of leopard, the Zanzibar Leopard made its home on the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania. It’s still unclear whether this large cat is technically extinct — there are occasional unconfirmed sightings.
Cause of extinction: Locals believed the leopards were kept by witches, so they aggressively hunted them. The animals were seen as evil predators that must be exterminated — and even the government was in on this campaign.
In the mid-’90s, there was a short-lived conservation effort, but it was deemed too little, too late. This is not the only big cat in trouble either: Tigers are also endangered, and several subspecies have gone extinct. There are several highly rated leopard conservation groups working to preserve related species.
Photo: Helle V. Goldman and Jon Winther-Hansen
Spix’s Macaw (2004)
Spix’s Macaw, also called the Little Blue Macaw, was known for its beautiful blue feathers. While some still exist in captivity, these tiny blue birds are extinct in the wild.
Cause of extinction: Habitat destruction and illegal trapping and trade contributed to the macaw’s dwindling numbers.
Photo: M. Stafford / www.parrotsinternational.org
Madeiran Large White (2007)
The stunning Madeiran Large White butterfly was found in the valleys of the Laurisilva forests on Portugal’s Madeira Islands. The butterfly’s closest relative, the Large White, is common across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Cause of extinction: Loss of habitat due to construction as well as pollution from agricultural fertilizers are two major causes of the species’ decline. To help butterflies in your yard and garden, consider planting some of these butterfly and bee-friendly plants.
Photo: A. E. Holt-White via Wikimedia Commons
Pyrenean Ibex (2000)
The last Pyrenean Ibex died in 2000. However, a cloned ibex, created from skin samples taken from the last Pyrenean Ibex, was born in 2009. It died shortly after birth from lung complications.
Cause of extinction: Hunting of the Ibex caused the animal’s numbers to seriously dwindle, and conservationists blame the Spanish government for failing to act in time to save it.
Photo: A. Cabrera via Wikimedia Commons
Po’ouli (2004)
A native of Maui, Hawaii, the Po’ouli, or Black-Faced Honeycreeper, was only discovered in the 1970s. The birds inhabited the southwestern slope of the Haleakala volcano.
But the population declined rapidly, and by 1997, there were only three known Po’ouli left. Efforts to mate the remaining birds failed, and the species was formally declared extinct seven years later.
Cause of extinction: Habitat loss, along with disease, predators, and a decline in its food source — native tree snails — are all seen as reasons for the bird’s demise. The unique threats to Hawaiian birds, which evolved to meet unique conditions on their islands, are a reason that one-third of U.S. birds are in decline, but there’s a lot you can do to help birds in your backyard.
Photo: Paul E. Baker / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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