lost forever

sadly, these species were recently extinct because of one primary threat: human.
images and texts from thedailygreen.com

The Javan Tiger was native to the Indonesian island of Java. In the 1800s they were so common they were considered pests by island natives,but as the island was developed their population dwindled. By the 1950s, only 20 tigers remained. Loss of habitat and agricultural development lead to severe population decline. Conservation efforts in the 1940s and '50s were unsuccessful due to a lack of adequate land and planning.

The majestic West African Black Rhino was declared extinct in 2006, after conservationists failed to find any in their last remaining habitat in Cameroon. Poachers hunted the rhino for its horn, which is believed by some in Yemen and China to possess aphrodisiacal powers.

The Tecopa Pupfish has the distinction of being the first animal declared extinct under the provisions of the endangered Species Act of 1973. A native of the hot springs of the Mojave Desert, the pupfish's decline was precipitated when its natural habitat was encroached upon by developers.

A native of Maui, Hawaii, the Po’ouli, or Black-Faced Honeycreeper, was only discovered in the 1970s. The population declined rapidly, and by 1997 there were only three known Po’ouli left. The species was formally declared extinct seven years later. Habitat loss, along with disease, predators and a decline in its food source – native tree snails – are all seen as reasons for the bird’s demise.

Spix's Macaw, also called the Little Blue Macaw, was known for its beautiful blue feathers. While some still exist in captivity, these tiny blue birds are extinct in the wild. Habitat destruction and illegal trapping and trade contributed to the macaw's dwindling numbers.

One of several subspecies of leopard, the Zanzibar Leopard made its home on the Zanzibar archipelago of Tanzania. It's still unclear whether this large cat is technically extinct – there are occasional unconfirmed sightings. Locals believed the leopards were kept by witches, and aggressively hunted them. The animals were seen as evil predators that must be exterminated.

The stunning Madeiran Large White butterfly was found in the valleys of the Laurisilva forests on Portugal’s Madeira Islands. Loss of habitat due to construction as well as pollution from agricultural fertilizers are two major causes of the species' decline.

The last Pyrenean Ibex died in 2000. However, a cloned ibex, created from skin samples taken from the last Pyrenean Ibex, was birthed in 2009. It died shortly after birth from lung complications. Hunting of the Ibex had caused the animal’s numbers to seriously dwindle and conservationists blame the Spanish government for failing to act in time to save it.

The Golden Toad. This fluorescent amphibian was found in the high altitude ridges of Costa Rica, but thanks to pollution, global warming and fungal skin infections, the species became extinct in 1989.

The Round Island Burrowing Boa preferred to live on the top-soil layers of volcanic slopes. It was once found on several other islands around Mauritius, but its population had dwindled by the 1940s, and could only be found on Round Island after 1949. It was last seen in 1975. The introduction of non-native species of rabbits and goats to the island destroyed vegetation and upset the boa’s habitat.


This Dutch butterfly -- a subspecies of the Alcon Blue -- was found mainly in the grasslands of The Netherlands. While closely related species (pictured here) still exist in parts of Europe and Asia, the last Dutch Alcon Blue was seen in the wild in 1979. Increases in farming and building had a negative impact on the Alcon Blue's habitat and caused it to lose its main food source.