7 Animals That Are Now Extinct Because Of Humans

Dodo

The dodo, a flightless bird native to Mauritius, went extinct in the late 17th century due to overhunting by European settlers and habitat destruction.

Quagga

The quagga, a subspecies of zebra from South Africa, was overhunted for its meat and hide in the 19th century, leading to its extinction.

Tasmanian Tiger

Also known as the thylacine, this marsupial carnivore from Tasmania was hunted to extinction in the early 20th century due to fear and competition with livestock.

Passenger Pigeon

The passenger pigeon was once the most numerous bird species in North America but became extinct in the early 20th century due to extensive hunting and habitat destruction.

Steller's Sea Cow

This massive marine mammal, discovered in the Bering Sea, was hunted to extinction for its meat, blubber, and hide by European explorers in the 18th century.

Great Auk

Overhunting for its feathers, eggs, and meat, along with habitat destruction, led to the extinction of the great auk in the mid-19th century.

Western Black Rhinoceros

This subspecies of black rhino was declared extinct in 2011 due to poaching for its horns, driven by the illegal wildlife trade.