Man greatly influenced the state of the environment and, unfortunately, not for the better. Chemical plants with toxic emissions, water pollution, scattering of debris, deforestation, drying of swamps - all this could not but affect the lives of our smaller brothers. Over the past half millennium, about 1000 species of living creatures have died out, and in many respects people are guilty who intentionally or indirectly destroyed them. Extinct animals fell prey to human foresight and stupidity. Almost every year mammals, birds, amphibians, which are subject to protection, are included in the Red Book, and species that have completely disappeared from the face of the earth began to fit very often.
Extinct species of animals due to human faults occupy a very impressive list, here are a few of the most famous of them. The last Quagga zebra died on August 12, 1883 in one of the Dutch zoos. People destroyed this species for the sake of a beautiful and very durable skin - the meat was inedible, so it was simply thrown away. A sad fate befell the Tasmanian marsupial tiger tilacin. In appearance, he very much resembled a large dog with stripes on the back and a long tail. This species disappeared after the invasion of the habitat of immigrants. The animal was not ready for this, so it died not only during the hunt, but also from the shock received.
Extinct animals often became an object of hunting, and a wandering dove was no exception. Poultry was the main course in the diet of the poor. There were so many pigeons that they were killed and taken to other regions by whole wagons, fed to pigs, and used as fertilizer. It so happened that in just a century, Americans completely destroyed this species, and then for a long time they searched for the reasons for the loss of such a common bird. The last pigeon died in Ohio on September 1, 1914.
Extinct animals were sometimes destroyed due to wrecking. For example, a Caroline parrot was exterminated for causing significant damage to fruit trees. The last couple died in 1918 in Cincinnati. People are indirectly involved in the destruction of the Chinese river baiji dolphin. Cargo and merchant ships polluted the rivers so much that this species simply could not live there. In 2006, the extinction of the species was officially recognized.
The Steller Cow became the record holder for extermination; it was destroyed in three decades. Extinct animals always swam in flocks near the surface of the water and ate seaweed. Sea cows were exterminated due to tasty meat, delicate fat that does not deteriorate over a long period, and strong skin. The last representatives of this species were seen in the 1970s. Steller's cormorant also suffered due to tasty meat and availability. This bird was somewhat reminiscent of a penguin, the last representative died in 1912.
A sad fate befell the wingless eider, the Turanian tiger, dodo, the golden frog and many others. Some of them were hunted, others suffered indirectly due to changes in environmental conditions, environmental pollution.
The endangered animals of Russia, the USA, India, Thailand and other countries need protection and care, therefore, in order not to see them in the list of extinct species, each of us must make at least a small contribution to cleaning the environment.
