Passenger Pigeon: The passenger pigeon was once one of the most abundant birds in North America, with flocks estimated to be in the billions. However, due to excessive hunting and habitat destruction, the last known passenger pigeon died in captivity in 1914.
Dodo: Native to the island of Mauritius, the dodo was a flightless bird that became extinct in the 17th century primarily due to hunting by humans and introduced predators such as rats, cats, and pigs.
Tasmanian Tiger: Also known as the thylacine, the Tasmanian tiger was a carnivorous marsupial found in Tasmania, Australia. It was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. However, habitat loss, hunting, and the introduction of diseases by European settlers led to its extinction in the early 20th century.
Great Auk: The great auk was a flightless bird that inhabited the North Atlantic Ocean. Overhunting for its meat, feathers, and eggs, as well as habitat destruction, resulted in its extinction in the mid-19th century.
Baiji: Found in the Yangtze River in China, the baiji was a freshwater dolphin species. Due to habitat loss, pollution, overfishing, and hunting, the baiji was declared functionally extinct in 2007, and is now considered extinct.
Western Black Rhinoceros: One of the five rhinoceros species, the western black rhinoceros resided in Cameroon, Chad, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic. Poaching for its horn led to its extinction in 2011.
These are just a few examples among the numerous animal species that have become extinct in modern times. Conservation efforts and the protection of ecosystems are crucial to prevent further extinctions and preserve biodiversity.