Species of animals always shift in their population count. Animals that aren’t hunted or threatened by humans would usually have a higher population count.
When these animals are threatened and killed, their population would keep on declining every day. When the population reaches a very low number, these animals would be called endangered animals. Examples of these endangered animals are endangered primates such as orangutans.
Now, when the population has reached endangered and the number keeps on depleting, the country of those animals would usually put a law or build conservation to protect that animal.
But if these attempts fail, these animals would reach a level called extinction. This is where there are no more animals of that specific species.
While there are different factors to a population count, some of the most major factors are habitat destruction. Due to human needs and modern-day society, more and more habitats of other animals are destroyed.
Besides that, the ability of an animal to reproduce is also important. Most of the animals that have been extinct take a long time to produce a baby.
Let’s get down below to know more about what animals extinct in 20th century!
- Golden Toad
An animal native to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in Costa Rica had been a victim of global warming and climate change. This animal was found in 1964 and had a population of around 1,500 animals.
These golden toads are known for their yellowish-gold color that people recognize. And the female toads are red, green, and black colored.
When it is 1989, the population of these golden toads is completely gone and there are no more known golden toads alive. While the major reason is climate change, this animal had also struggled with fungal disease Chytridiomycosis.
Up to this date, the golden toad is the first animal to be extinct due to climate change.
- Barbary Lion
Who doesn’t know the king of the jungle, one of the animals portrayed in the movie “Lion King”. This species of lion is known to be one of the biggest lion species out of all the other lions. The Barbary lion is native to the Atlas mountain region of North Africa.
Sooner or later, hunters became aware of the existence of Barbary lions. Hunters would go on expeditions to capture these lions alive.
These lions are needed alive because they are known to be a famous animal for circus attractions. Not only during this era, the Barbary lion had actually been used in the Roman Colosseum for entertainment too.
Some of the unique characteristics of this animal is that it has the largest manes amongst other lions and it is also one of the fastest land animals.
- Passenger Pigeon
This next animal is the first-ever animal to be extinct during the 20th century. Unlike other animals, the passenger pigeon had a high population count, to begin with. The passenger pigeon had a population of 3 billion to 5 billion before it went extinct.
This species of pigeon is known for its aggressive behavior. From loud and screeching noises, this pigeon is also an enemy of farmers.
The passenger pigeon would destroy crops. After a while, the people in North America would until this animal for food until it became extinct.
- Mexican Grizzly Bear
This gigantic animal is considered trouble for people who lived around its habitat. The Mexican grizzly bear is a big animal weighing of almost 320 kilograms, this animal has an extremely majestic fur.
The color of its fur itself would be silver-ish combined with a reddish color. Like previously mentioned, the Mexican grizzly bear is despised by farmers.
This is because the grizzly bears would be a threat to livestock such as sheep and cows. That is why farmers would develop techniques to trap this animal and kill it.
Farmers would use poisons, guns and other traps to capture this animal. Even when the Mexican government has put laws, it wasn’t enough and this animal went extinct in 1969.
- Levuana Moth
Sometimes, extreme measures must be taken to ensure the survival of the local people. Such as in Fiji, this country relies so much on coconut crops for food, herbs, fuel, and even building materials.
And the Levuana moth is a big problem because it would destroy the coconut crops. That is why scientists have developed pest control programs and use chemicals to protect coconut farms.
It was successful and the population of levuana moth has proven to decrease. But the effects were devastating and resulted in an extinction in 1994.
- Tasmanian Tiger
A native animal of Australia called Tasmanian tiger is a unique looking animal. It has stripes like a zebra and has an average size similar to a dog.
These wild species of animals have endured and tried to survive from threats such as hunting and killed by other animals. But the greatest factor that wiped its population are diseases.
And in 1936, the last Tasmanian tiger to be alive had died in 1936.
- Caribean Monk Seal
Up to this date, the Caribbean monk seal is known to be the first seal to be extinct. This aquatic mammal had been used by European colonialists for different purposes such as for fuel and food. Back then, scientists even had the chance to study this slowest-moving animal.
But unfortunately, it was too late and the population had depleted so fast due to hunting. In 2008, the Caribbean monk seal was declared as extinct.
To learn more about animals with threatened populations, feel free to also check our articles on endangered primates.