The Most Ridiculous Ways Animals Went Extinct

Over the last few centuries there have been many changes to the animal kingdom. Animal species that were once found in large numbers have become endangered and then extinct. While some animal extinctions are due to natural phenomena such as climatic heating or cooling and changes in sea levels, some causes have just been ridiculous. Let’s look at five species and how they became extinct. \r \r 1. The Tecopa Pupfish\r \r The Tecopa pupfish was a small species of fish that was endemic to a small region of California known for its natural hot springs. The fish had a special adaptation that allowed it to survive in the outflows of the warm spring. One would think that all efforts would be made to preserve this species but this wasn’t the case. Well, in the 1960s, large bathhouses were constructed in the area where the pupfish were native. These were natural hot tubs where the rich came for foot soaks. As a result, the little outflows and rivers where the fish dwelled had to be further excavated to make room for the increasing water flow. The outflows started flowing quicker and the entire species was essentially flushed downstream, where they all perished in the cooler water.\r \r 2. The Great Auk\r \r The great auk was a tiny bird endemic to the North Atlantic which resembled the penguin. The birds laid their eggs on the ground on uninhabited islands with natural landscapes that would protect the eggs from predators and the elements. Human hunters sought these birds for meat and to satisfy their egos as hunters. By the nineteenth century the birds were near extinction. Fishermen who destroyed the last few birds sold them as specimens to collectors and museums. Instead of displaying the actual great auks, museums aimed to preserve and show their mounted skins. A group of sailors beat the last surviving bird in British waters thinking it was a witch.\r \r 3. The Stephen Island Wren\r \r The Stephen Island Wren was wiped out by a housecat named Mr. Tibbles. To him, it was all fun and games. This small flightless bird was endemic to an island off the coast of New Zealand. During the course of a year, Mr. Tibbles, owned by the lighthouse keeper, hunted the entire species. The bird was actually discovered that year and within such a short window, the species was no more.\r \r 4. The Cordoba Fighting Dog\r \r The cordoba fighting dog was a rare dog that was bred in the nineteenth century by Argentinians for the purpose of fighting. These dogs seemed to feel no pain or fear and were brutal and fierce. They were sought after by dog fighters as they would fight till the other was no more. This instinct was so strong that it became almost impossible to breed the species. They would often fight instead of mate. As such, the number of cordoba fighting dogs dwindled and became extinct. By the twentieth century, dog fighting was banned in Argentina.\r \r 5. The Tasmanian Tiger\r \r The thylacine, known as the Tasmanian tiger, was a carnivorous marsupial that resembled a dog. This species was quite intriguing because of some of its distinct features but they were hunted to a large extent by farmers in the 1920s. This led to them becoming endangered. The last of its kind named Benjamin was kept in a zoo. In 1936, the zookeeper forgot to unlock its sleeping area and Benjamin froze from the cold. This was another loss to the animal kingdom. \r \r