**The fragile balance of nature: the forgotten history of extinct species**
Since the dawn of time, humanity has drawn on the animal kingdom to ensure its sustenance. However, this symbiotic relationship has sometimes led to overhunting, leading to the extinction of some species. Imagine a world where there were no dodos or woolly mammoths left. Unfortunately, these animals, among others, have been hunted to extinction.
Understanding these stories allows us to become aware of the fragility of our ecosystem and the importance of preserving the wildlife still present today.
1. **Sleep**
The dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, became extinct at the end of the 17th century. These birds, larger than turkeys, were recognizable by their gray-blue plumage and their large heads. When Portuguese sailors discovered Mauritius around 1507, dodos had no natural predators and were not afraid of humans. This made them easily vulnerable. Sailors hunted them for their fresh meat, and the introduction of pigs, monkeys and rats, which devoured their eggs, precipitated their decline. The last dodo was killed in 1681.
2. **Steller’s sea cow**
Discovered in 1741 by German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, the Steller’s sea cow inhabited the coastal areas of the Bering Sea. These peaceful giants, similar to manatees, measured up to 9 meters long and weighed around 10 tonnes. Easy to hunt for Russian sealers because they floated on the surface of the water and could not dive, these sea cows were slaughtered for their meat and disappeared within just 27 years of their discovery.
3. **The passenger pigeon**
Once present in the billions, passenger pigeons were among the most numerous birds in North America. These birds traveled in immense flights that could darken the sky for days. However, intense hunting in the 19th century for their meat, seen as a cheap food source, as well as the destruction of their habitat, led to their rapid decline. The last known passenger pigeon, named Martha, died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.
4. **The Great Penguin**
The great auk was a flightless bird that lived in the North Atlantic, including Canada, Iceland and Scandinavia. These birds were hunted for their feathers, meat and oil. By the early 19th century their numbers had declined significantly, and the last known pair was killed in 1844 on Eldey Island, off the coast of Iceland. Their extinction is a cruel reminder of the impacts of overexploitation.
5. **The quagga**
The quagga, a subspecies of the plains zebra, was distinguished by its limited stripe pattern, mainly on the front part of its body. Originally from South Africa, it was hunted extensively by European settlers for its meat and skin, but also because it was considered a competitor for grazing with livestock. The last known quagga died in an Amsterdam zoo in 1883.
These tragic stories remind us of the importance of respecting the flora and fauna that surround us. We must learn from past mistakes to preserve biodiversity and maintain the fragile balance of our planet. Every species counts, and only a respectful and sustainable approach will prevent further extinctions.