What did people think about the dodo before discovery of bones?

The first European accounts of the dodo described it as a large, strange bird with a hooked beak, short wings, and a clumsy gait. They noted its tameness and its apparent lack of fear of humans. Some sailors even claimed that the dodo could be caught by simply poking it with a stick.

However, as more Europeans began to visit Mauritius and the surrounding islands, the dodo population began to decline. By the mid-17th century, the dodo was extinct.

The extinction of the dodo was largely due to human activity. The Dutch settlers who arrived on Mauritius in the 16th century introduced pigs, dogs, and cats to the island. These animals preyed on the dodo's eggs and young, and also competed with the dodo for food. In addition, the Dutch sailors often hunted the dodo for food and for its feathers.

By the time scientists began to study the dodo, it was already extinct. As a result, they had to rely on the accounts of early European explorers and on the few surviving specimens of dodo feathers and bones. These specimens were not very informative, and scientists were left with a very limited understanding of the dodo.

In the late 20th century, a team of scientists led by Dr. Julian Hume began a new study of the dodo. They used a variety of techniques, including computer modeling and DNA analysis, to reconstruct the dodo's appearance and behavior. Their research revealed that the dodo was a much more complex and interesting bird than previously thought.

The dodo is now considered to be an icon of extinction. It is a reminder of the fragility of our planet's ecosystems and of the importance of protecting endangered species.