Although the achievements of man cannot be denied, with plenty of positive things being achieved, humans have also had a negative impact on the Earth, at times without even realising it. And the technological era, despite its advantages, can in fact distance us even further from nature. However, we ourselves also make up part of nature, in the same way as the flora and fauna. Here are a few species that have gone extinct because of us. Let’s stop the massacre.
1/ The white rhino
The last male white rhinoceros died in March 2018 at the age of 45. He was the only male survivor in his species, and his death dooms the species to full extinction. The disappearance of the white rhino can be put down to extensive poaching in the the 1970s and 1980s.
2/ The Javan tiger
The Javan tiger was declared extinct in 1994, due to massive destruction of the forest that sheltered the species, meaning these tigers lost their natural habitat.
3/ The Californian grizzly bear
The last Californian grizzly bear, having been the emblem of the area, lost its life in 1922. And what was the reason for their demise? The danger such bears presented for humans, having a reputation for eating any humans that crossed their paths.
4/ The dodo
If you have ever set foot on the island of Mauritius, you are sure to be aware that the Dodo is the national emblem. This strange giant pelican unfortunately was exterminated by settlers and sailors, who invaded the island, reaping the fruits of its luxurious natural resources.
5/ The great auk
This large Atlantic penguin was exterminated by man less than 200 years ago. Retreating further and further north due to human activities, the great auk was often hunted for its tasty meat, or used as fishing bait.
