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Dodo
An extinct flightless bird that inhabited the island of Mauritius. Dodo was about one metre tall and may have weighed 10–18 kg. It became flightless because of the ready availability of abundant food sources (seeds, bulbs, nuts, roots and fallen fruits) and a relative absence of pred -
Great Auk
A large and flightless bird that was found in the North Atlantic and as far south as northern Spain. It had an average height of 75-85 cm and weighed about 5kg. The Great Auk was flightless but was a powerful swimmer which aided hunting in the water. -
Passenger Pigeon
Passenger or Wild Pigeon estimated 3 to 5 billion Passenger Pigeons were in the US when Europeans arrived in North America, but their settlement led to mass deforestation resulting in habitat loss and a reduction in the bird numbers. In the 19th century pigeon meat was commercialized as a cheap food for slaves and the poor, which resulted in hunting on a massive scale. -
Tasmanian Tiger
Tasmanian Tiger was not related to tigers, the creature had the appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog (it weighed around 30kg with a nose to tail length of almost 2 metres) but dark stripes that radiated from the top of its back gave it a tiger-like appearance. It is believed to have been hunted to extinction. -
Pyrenean Ibex
Spanish Ibex or Iberian Goat tended to live in rocky habitats with cliffs and trees on high mountain slopes in summer and warmer valleys during the winter. The Ibex had greyish brown fur that grew thicker in winter with the males having black colouring on their legs, neck and face. The males also had large, thick, ridged, curving horns but the females were much shorter and thinner. The Ibex would grow to a height of 60-76cm. It was killed by a falling tree. -
Baiji White Dolphin
Also called the Chinese River Dolphin, found only in the Yangtze River in China. The Baiji could grow to eight feet long and weigh up to a quarter of a ton. With tiny eyes and a long thin rostrum, the Baiji had very poor eyesight and relied on echolocation to navigate and hunt for prey. A dwindling food supply, massive pollution and boat propeller accidents were wiping the creatures out.
