List of Animals Driven to Extinction by Humans

The Latin phrase “Homo homini lupus est”, popularized by philosopher Thomas Hobbes, translates as “man is a wolf to man.” It illustrates the harshness and cruelty humans can show toward each other. Sadly, our destructive behavior extends far beyond our own species and has had devastating effects on countless other creatures that share the planet with us.

Over the past few centuries, hundreds of animal species have disappeared directly or indirectly because of human activity. Whether through hunting and poaching, or indirectly through deforestation, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change, humans have been the driving force behind the majority of modern extinctions.

Causes of Human-Driven Extinction

When we talk about human-caused extinction, most people immediately think of overhunting or poaching. While these are indeed major causes, history shows that there are many other ways humans have pushed species over the brink. The main drivers can be grouped into three categories:

1. Excessive Hunting and Poaching
   Large-scale hunting for meat, skins, feathers, horns, or trophies has wiped out dozens of species. Even when not targeted, many animals have been killed as “pests” or “threats” to livestock.

2. Habitat Destruction
   Deforestation is the most obvious example, but draining wetlands, building roads and dams, or converting land for farming have all destroyed ecosystems. Once natural habitats disappear, the animals that rely on them vanish as well.

3. Collapse of Food Chains
   Eliminating one species often causes cascading effects on others. If a prey species disappears, its predators may also die out. Likewise, removing a keystone plant or tree species can disrupt entire ecosystems.

Animals Extinct Due to Human Actions

Here are some of the most striking examples of animals that disappeared because of us:

• Moas – Giant, flightless birds once found in New Zealand. Larger than ostriches, they were hunted to extinction by the Māori people around the year 1500.

• Western Black Rhinoceros – A subspecies of black rhino, once found in West Africa, was wiped out by poachers targeting its horns. It was declared extinct in the early 21st century.

• Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine) – Native to Tasmania, this striped predator was hunted as a livestock threat. Habitat loss and disease worsened its decline. The last known individual died in captivity in 1936.

• Dodo – Perhaps the most famous example. A flightless bird from Mauritius, the dodo was driven extinct in the 17th century after sailors hunted it and introduced invasive animals that ate its eggs.

• Elephant Bird – A massive, flightless bird from Madagascar that grew over 3 meters tall. It was not only hunted but also lost to egg collection, as its enormous eggs were used as containers and trophies.

• Woolly Mammoth – Climate change reduced its tundra habitat, but human hunting also played a major role. The last small populations on isolated islands disappeared just a few thousand years ago.

• Bali Tiger – A small tiger subspecies from the island of Bali, exterminated by hunting and deforestation. The last individual was killed in 1937.

• Atitlán Grebe (Poc Duck) – A diving bird from Lake Atitlán in Guatemala. Boat traffic and the introduction of non-native fish competing for food pushed it to extinction in the 20th century.

• Quagga – A zebra subspecies with partial striping. The last known specimen died in the late 1800s after decades of overhunting.

• Pyrenean Ibex (Bucardo) – A wild goat from the Pyrenees. Excessive hunting led to its extinction in 2000. Attempts at cloning have been made but failed to establish a population.

• Western Barred Bandicoot / Small Marsupials of Australia – Hunted intensively, and also wiped out by habitat destruction and predation by introduced foxes and cats.

• Glaucous Macaw – A large blue parrot once found in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Its main food source, the yatay palm, was destroyed, leading to its extinction between the 19th and 20th centuries.

Animals Currently Threatened by Humans

Sadly, the list of species at risk today is even longer. Here are just a few examples of animals facing possible extinction in the near future if human pressure continues:

• Lions – Once numbering around half a million, Africa’s lions now total fewer than 20,000. Five lions are killed every day, mostly through conflict or trophy hunting.

• Leopards – Their population has dropped from 700,000 to around 50,000 in just 50 years. An estimated 5,000 are killed annually for their skins.

• Orangutans – Rampant deforestation for palm oil plantations has left these great apes critically endangered.

• Rhinos – About three are poached every day for their horns. Some countries, such as Mozambique, have already lost their rhino populations entirely.

• Elephants – Africa still holds around 300,000 Elephants-Are-Endangered.html">elephants, but 40,000 are killed every year for ivory and conflict with humans. At this rate, extinction is a real threat.

• Lemurs – Madagascar’s lemurs have been devastated since humans settled the island 2,000 years ago. Over 20 species are already gone, and 91% of surviving species are endangered.

• Sharks – Hundreds of thousands are slaughtered annually for their fins. Most are thrown back into the ocean alive after finning, where they suffocate and die.

Conclusion

The illegal wildlife trade and human exploitation of animals continue to thrive, often with little accountability. From pharmaceutical companies and zoos to circuses and private collectors, demand for animal parts and exotic species drives one of the most lucrative black markets in the world.

As is often the case, poorer countries serve as exporters—harboring unique biodiversity but lacking resources for protection—while wealthier nations are the main consumers. Unless strong international protections, responsible consumer choices, and effective conservation programs are put in place, many more species may join the list of animals already lost to human activity.

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