Carnival of the NEarly Extinct Animals

At the beginning of the 20th century, there were 100,000 tigers in the world. Today, as few as 4,000 remain due to poaching and a steady decrease in forests/forest cover in their natural habitats. This represents a 96% loss in tiger populations. Three subspecies of tiger are now extinct.

Pollinators power 1 in 3 bites of food and support more than 90 crops. But their populations are collapsing driven largely by habitat loss. Without high-quality habitat, native bees, monarch butterflies, and honey bees continue to decline, putting our food system is put at risk. Yet simple actions such a avoiding pesticides and planting milkweed can help support pollinators.

While polar bears are only marked as a “vulnerable” species, they have become a symbol for the need for awareness of climate change. There are currently about 26,000 polar bears worldwide but without action on climate change, we could lose all but a few polar bear populations by the end of the century due to the decline of sea ice.

In many parts of the world, hawksbills face the unique threat of being hunted for their beautiful shell, also known as “tortoise shell,” which is used by craftspeople to create many types of jewelry and trinkets. The historical hunting and killing of hawksbills for their shell nearly drove the species to extinction. Today, the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species forbids the trade of any turtle products on the international market but illegal hunting continues to represent a threat to the species in many parts of the world.

The number of African forest elephants fell by more than 86% over a period of 31 years, while the population of African savanna elephants decreased by at least 60% over the last 50 years, according to the assessments.

Both species suffered sharp declines since 2008 due to a significant increase in poaching, which peaked in 2011 but continues to threaten populations. The ongoing conversion of their habitats, primarily to agricultural and other land uses, is another significant threat.

Rhinos are some of the most unique and incredible animals on the planet. In the last decade, more than 10,000 rhinos have been lost to the poaching epidemic in Africa alone, with their horn now valued higher than the price of gold.

In Asia, rhino horn is used in traditional medicines and as a status symbol, thus consumer demand is higher than ever before and pushes this magnificent creature closer to extinction.

Coral reefs are sometimes known as the “rainforests of the sea.” Nearly a quarter of all the fish in the sea rely on healthy coral reefs. One billion people depend on coral reefs for food, income, and coastal protection. Pollution and increasing ocean temperatures are two major causes of coral reef loss—a problem that can have long-reaching effects on humans and marine species alike.

Whales are navigating several threats simultaneously. Entanglement in fishing gear, ship strikes, chemical and noise pollution, loss of habitat and climate change are impacting whales. Seven out of the 16 great whale species are classified as endangered or vulnerable, even after decades of protection. Meanwhile, growing evidence shows that protecting whales and dolphins has benefits for nature and people. And yet, 1/4 of the world’s cetaceans are now at risk of extinction in the wild.  

This charismatic species inhabited old-growth forests and swamps that once stretched across the southeastern United States, but these forests were largely destroyed by loggers by the mid-20th century. In their heyday of the 1800s, prior to the removal of 98% of native forest habitat that once covered 24 million acres, ivory-billed woodpeckers were considered abundant. The last universally accepted sighting of an American ivory-billed woodpecker occurred in 1944.

Gray wolves once roamed across North America, with populations estimated at around 2 million. However, federal extermination programs and widespread hunting reduced their numbers drastically, leaving them nearly extinct in the contiguous United States by the 1960s. Today, gray wolves occupy less than 10% of their historic range in the lower 48 states.

Gray wolves are apex predators that maintain ecosystem balance by controlling prey populations. Protecting wolves is therefore critical not only for the species itself but for the health of entire ecosystems.

One of the main reasons for the mass killing of bison was the U.S. military's strategy to undermine the Plains tribes. By eliminating the bison, which were a crucial food source for Native Americans, the military aimed to force these tribes onto reservations and reduce their ability to resist U.S. expansion. The expansion of railroads in the 19th century also played a significant role in the bison's decline, as bison were seen as obstacles to railroad construction and operation.

Once nearly extinct, bison now roam again in the wild thanks to dedicated conservation.

The kāhuli, pupukanioe, or pololei have long been revered by Hawaiians, often appearing in mele, hula, mo‘olelo, oli, and in this case ‘ōlelo no‘eau. Their ornate shells once blanketed the trees of Hawai‘i with a presence so abundant some believe the kāhuli’s song was composed by the wind swirling through their shells. Unfortunately, scientists estimate up to 90% of this diversity has vanished as a result of introduced invasive predators, habitat loss, over collection and climate change.