7 Animals That Disappeared Thanks to Human Appetite

By Sheetal Kumari | August 21, 2024

Hunted for its meat and eggs, the dodo fell victim to human greed and was extinct by 1662, just 80 years after its discovery.

Dodo Bird

Representative Image: Canva

Once abundant, the passenger pigeon was hunted to extinction for its meat and feathers, with the last individual dying in captivity in 1914.

Passenger Pigeon

Representative Image:  Field Museum of  Natural History

This flightless bird was driven to extinction by hunting for its feathers and eggs. The last confirmed sighting was in 1852, with possible sightings continuing into the 1860s.

Great Auk

Representative Image: Canva

Discovered by George Steller in 1741, this large marine mammal was hunted to extinction just 27 years later, in 1768.

Steller's Sea Cow

Representative Image: Canva

Also known as the Tasmanian tiger, this carnivorous marsupial was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century. Last known individual died in 1936.

Thylacine

Representative Image: The University  of Melbourne

The quagga, a zebra subspecies, was hunted to extinction for its meat and hide. The last wild individual died in the 1870s, and the final captive quagga passed away in 1883.

Quagga

Representative Image: Canva

The baiji dolphin, native to the Yangtze River, was declared extinct in 2006 due to overfishing and habitat destruction. The last confirmed sighting was in 2004.

Baiji Dolphin

Representative Image: Canva