An Age of Extinction
Nowadays, it seems like humans are always at odds with the other creatures on this planet. For the most part, this is true, with dozens of species going extinct annually. However, there are times when direct human interference saves species, and many efforts to create balance in the natural world have proved successful. With that in mind, here are humanity's biggest failures and successes in terms of extinction.
1. Golden Toad
Amphibians require very specific circumstances and conditions to thrive, which is why they’re often some of the first to go when habitats switch up. The golden toad went extinct as recently as 2019, and it was due to the fluctuations brought on by climate change in Costa Rica.
2. Chinese Paddlefish
The Chinese paddlefish was the largest freshwater fish on the face of the Earth, reaching roughly 3 to 7 meters in length. It lived in the Yangtze and Yellow River basins and was overfished. Fishing strains in addition to the construction of dams led to its official extinction in 2022.
3. Baiji
Since we’re on the topic of the Yangtze River, it really is one of the most interesting freshwater ecosystems out there, and is home to unique species that exist nowhere else. Unfortunately, this means those others also fall victim to overfishing and construction. The baiji, or Yangtze river dolphin, was a very successful and unique hunter that perished in the early to mid-2000s. The last sighting was in 2002, and in 2006, over 2,000 underwater instruments failed to pick up a trace.
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4. Pinta Giant Tortoise
In 2015, the Pinta giant tortoise went extinct despite numerous attempts to breed the last remaining male with a female of another species. Unfortunately, the efforts proved unviable, and shortly after, the entire species succumbed to hunting and island vegetation loss.
5. Maui Akepa
The Maui Akepa is a small songbird that lived in the Maui region and was last sighted in 1988. However, audio recordings kept up the hope that there were still birds singing about, but in 2018, with habitat loss and new invasive species, this hope was lost.
6. The Pyrenean Ibex
The Pyrenean ibex has one of the most fascinating science fiction stories you’ll ever hear. Initially, it went extinct in 2000 for unclear reasons. However, scientists preserved some of its skin cells and used that to create the first de-extinction clone ever. The clone was born successfully and they had brought the creature back from the brink; however, it would die only several minutes later due to a lung defect. Either way, this would be the beginning of numerous other de-extinction projects, with some setting their eyes on woolly mammoths.
7. Spix’s Macaw
If you’ve ever seen the movie Rio, then you may have a soft spot for blue macaws. Unfortunately, the Spix’s macaw went extinct in Brazil in 2019. If it can be considered a silver lining, there are still over a hundred of the macaws living in captivity.
8. Mountain Mist Frog
The mist frog lived in the mountains of Australia and recently vanished in 2021. This is due to susceptibility to a fungus known as Bd, which is actually spread through human activity. Bd is actually involved in the decline of over 500 amphibian species, meaning the Mountain Mist frog certainly won’t be the last to go.
9. Western Black Rhino
The Western black rhino is one of the rarest black rhino subspecies around and was officially declared extinct in 2011 due to widespread poaching. Since no black rhinos are kept in captivity, it truly is the last of its kind, and unfortunately, other rhino species are still in trouble.
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10. Jaguarundi
Most people in the United States probably haven’t even heard of the Jaguarundi, but this little feline has actually been living in the region for ages. However, despite long studies and efforts, there have been no sightings of the creature in 18 years, indicating that it too is extinct.
Now that we have talked about some of the more recent creatures to go extinct, here are 10 that actually made a comeback.
1. Blue Iguana
At one point in 2002, there were only 15 blue iguanas remaining on the Cayman Islands. That was until one university student decided to set up a breeding program and brought the species back to over 1,000 wild inhabitants by 2018.
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2. Peregrine Falcon
There was a time in the 1970s when peregrine falcons, best known as the fastest animals in the world, were critically endangered. This was due to the use of a notorious pesticide called DDT that was causing them to be born with defects or not born at all. Luckily, the U.S. banned the use of the pesticide and they were able to make a comeback. Now you can even find them living in cities.
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3. Rodrigues Fruit Bat
This bat once roamed the islands around the Indian Ocean and was a key pollinator responsible for flower and fauna growth. They struggled against deforestation and food shortages, but were luckily saved thanks to 46 international zoos participating in captive breeding programs. The breeding, paired with public awareness initiatives, has led to an increasing population.
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4. Shortnose Sturgeon
This sturgeon has a cool armored appearance that gives it quite the prehistoric look. Unfortunately, it was almost ancient history due to river construction, overfishing, and habitat loss. It was luckily saved thanks to captive breeding programs and now thrives in over 41 bays and rivers across North America.
5. Mallorcan Midwife Toad
While most amphibians struggle with the changing climate, the Mallorcan midwife toad managed to come back despite being considered extinct in the 1970s. Humans directly got involved with captive breeding programs and helped reintroduce the toad back into safe habitats.
6. Gould’s Mouse
This little mouse lived throughout Western Australia and was considered extinct for a resounding 150 years due to the introduction of invasive species like cats and foxes. However, it was later found that the neighboring Shark Bay mouse, which lives on a handful of islands near Western Australia, was in fact the Gould’s mouse. Regardless, the creature will still need help to return to its glory numbers.
7. Sea Otter
The sea otter is a key species that is integral to coastal ecosystems around the world. They’re also totally adorable and have silly antics that make them quite lovable. However, due to hunting, their numbers plummeted to less than 2,000, which was only remedied after an international ban on otter hunting was placed.
8. American Bison
Some say the Wild West ended when the last wild buffalo ceased to exist. There was a point where tens of millions of buffalo roamed North America, but they were targeted and the government petitioned to have them removed due to their ties with indigenous people. Some American breeders kept their own captive herds, which were later re-released into the wild. Now, there are roughly 500,000 buffalo roaming.
9. Eurasian Beaver
You would think beavers have been around forever, but in the United Kingdom, the beavers took a major hit due to their prized fur. Fortunately, nowadays, there is research indicating the benefits of beavers in wetlands, and numerous of them have been released into the wild to take up their natural role.
10. Blue Whale
It’s pretty shocking to think that humans have had such a harrowing effect on the biggest creature in the entire world. At one point, the blue whales were hunted to near extinction for their oil and fat. They were being massacred by the hundreds and thousands until the International Whaling Commission granted them protection in 1966. Now, they’re making a comeback, but there are still far fewer blue whales around than there should be.
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