The Iberian ibex was revived for a few minutes. Madagascar pygmy hippopotamus
But there is a more recent chapter in this sad chronicle of the planet: some animals have become extinct literally before our eyes. Let's remember them by name.
Galapagos tortoise Lonesome George
The last Abingdon elephant tortoise was discovered on the uninhabited Pinta Peninsula ( Galapagos Islands) in 1972. Before this, the subspecies was considered extinct due to the fault of people, who for centuries killed giant animals for meat and oil, and destroyed their habitats for the needs of Agriculture, they brought atypical animals to the islands, such as goats - after multiplying, they destroyed a significant part of the vegetation.
The last representative of the turtles, a male named Lonesome George, received the title of the most famous bachelor and was a symbol of the Galapagos National Park. For decades, scientists have been trying to get offspring from it, selecting females of a close subspecies Galapagos tortoises, however, all efforts were in vain: the male was not interested in representatives of the opposite sex, and the only brood of eggs turned out to be non-viable.
On June 24, 2012, sanctuary ranger Fausto Liereno, who had been looking after the unique turtle for 40 years, found Lonesome George dead. He was 100 years old; by the standards of a turtle's life, he died at the very dawn of his strength. There is no other turtle of this species on the planet.
Iberian ibex Celia
In 2000, one of the subspecies of the Iberian ibex, or bucardo (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica), which lived on the Iberian Peninsula, disappeared. There were a lot of these animals in the Middle Ages, their numbers sharply decreased in the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting and food competition with large cattle, domestic sheep, goats and horses, which people grazed in high mountainous areas. In the second half of the 20th century, only a small population survived in national park Ordesa y Monte Perdido in the Spanish part of the Pyrenees.
The last ibex of this subspecies was the female Celia - she was found dead on January 6, 2000. Shortly before Celia's death, scientists managed to take unique genetic material from her, and in 2009 an attempt was made to resurrect this species. Using frozen cells and live domestic goats, the scientists obtained 439 embryos, of which 57 were implanted into goat surrogate mothers. During the experiment, seven pregnancies were observed, but only one goat eventually gave birth to a live bucardo. Due to problems with respiratory system he lived only seven minutes, but scientists continue experiments and do not give up hope of cloning Pyrenean ibex in the future.
West African black rhinoceros
In 2011 International Union Nature Conservation has declared the black rhinoceros subspecies extinct West Africa Diceros bicornis longipes. The main reason for the disappearance of these animals was poaching: rhinoceros horn has always been highly valued on the black market due to its supposed healing properties, Although official medicine has no evidence of its usefulness.
For several decades of the 20th century, the western black rhinoceros subspecies was the most numerous among other rhinoceros species. A sharp population decline occurred between 1970 and 1992. By 1995, there were about 2,500 of these rhinoceroses left, by 2000 - ten, and in 2001 there were five left. The last specimen was seen in Cameroon in 2006. Since then, experts have not been able to find a single representative of this subspecies.
These were large animals, up to 3.75 m high and weighing up to 1400 kg. On hot days they could be found sleeping in the shade of trees throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Due to their poor eyesight, rhinoceroses often relied on birds to help them spot threats in time. The name of the last individual, unfortunately, is unknown.
Another endangered subspecies is the northern white rhinoceros- with a high degree of probability will become extinct in the near future. October 17, 2014 at the age of 44 at the San Diego Zoo. Now there are only five females left on Earth: three of them live in the Kenyan Ol Pejeta Nature Reserve, one in the Czech Zoo and another in the San Diego Zoo.
Chinese river dolphin Kwikwi
Thousands of Chinese baiji river dolphins (Lipotes vexillifer) recently frolicked in the Yangtze River, as well as in adjacent rivers and lakes. These white-gray animals, up to 2.5 meters long and weighing up to 167 kg, spent a lot of time in shallow water, their fins sticking out of the water everywhere like flags. In ancient times, the Chinese worshiped them as river goddesses.
In the 20th century, as industry developed and water pollution, the number of the subspecies decreased significantly; fishermen and hunters also contributed to the destruction of dolphins. If before 1900 the baiji population, according to scientists, was 3000-5000 individuals, then by 1990 only 400 remained, and in 2006 scientists had not discovered a single one.
Soon World Fund Wildlife has officially declared the subspecies extinct. Among the reasons cited was a decrease in the number of fish and, consequently, a lack of food for the dolphins. The last member of the subspecies kept in captivity was named Kwikwi - he was caught in Lake Dongting in 1980 and died on July 14, 2002.
However, Chinese scientists have not lost hope of discovering a couple of individuals that swim in the river undetected and resurrecting the “river goddesses.” There is hope: in August 2007, shortly after the scientists' search, a peasant from Anhui province reported that he was able to photograph a large white animal similar to a dolphin in the river. Scientists from the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences watched the video and confirmed that this is baiji. So a happy ending is still possible in this story.
Big white butterfly Madeira
The extinction of this species of cabbage butterfly was officially announced in 2007. The Great White Madeira Butterfly has not been found anywhere in the world except in the Laurisilva forests on the island of Madeira. The progressive 20th century deprived it of its usual habitat: cutting down trees, active construction of enterprises, recreation centers and residential buildings led to a sharp decline in the population of winged beauties by the end of the century. Agricultural fertilizers completely polluted the island and killed the butterflies. After ecologists had not encountered a single butterfly for 15 years, they were forced to admit that this subspecies no longer exists in the world.
Black-faced Hawaiian flower girl
Of the 22 species of Hawaiian flowerbirds—birds from the family of finches that lived only on the Hawaiian Islands—seven are critically endangered, and nine are already extinct. One of the extinct species, the black-faced Hawaiian flowerbird, or po'ouli, became extinct as recently as 2004.
These small birds, similar in color to crows, lived only on the slopes of the Haleakala volcano on Maui, the second largest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. They were discovered only in 1973 and were already considered an endangered species: in those years there were about 200 birds left.
The cause of extinction is considered to be a change in habitat, a reduction in the range of food plants, the disappearance of their favorite delicacy - the tree snail, as well as diseases (for example, mosquitoes brought to the island became distributors of avian malaria).
In 1995, fewer than seven black-faced Hawaiian flower girls remained, and in 1997, ecologists counted only three. Employees of the local reserve hoped to catch and mate these birds. In 2002, they managed to catch one of them, but it flew away. In September 2004, another black-faced Hawaiian flowerbird was captured, but it died in December. Since then, ecologists have not been able to see representatives of this unique look, and it is officially declared extinct. The genetic material of the last of the birds has been preserved for science and possible cloning.
Extinction is a natural process: typical species become extinct within 10 million years after their appearance on Earth. But today, when the planet faces a number of serious problems such as overpopulation, pollution environment, climate change, etc., species loss is occurring thousands of times faster than would occur naturally.
It is difficult to know exactly when certain species will disappear from the wild, but it is safe to say that thousands of animal species become extinct every year.
In this article, we take a look at the recently extinct animals that we will miss the most. From the Javan tiger and Caribbean monk seal to the Mauritian dodo (or dodo), here are 25 extinct ones we won't see again.
25. Madagascar pygmy hippopotamus
Once widespread on the island of Madagascar, the Madagascar pygmy hippopotamus was a close relative of the modern hippopotamus, although much smaller.
Initial estimates suggested that the species went extinct about a thousand years ago, but new evidence has shown that these hippos may have lived in wildlife up until the 1970s.
24. Chinese river dolphin
Known by many other names such as "baiji", "Yangtze River dolphin", "white-finned dolphin" or "Yangtze dolphin", the Chinese river dolphin was freshwater dolphin, who lived in the Yangtze River in China.
The population of Chinese river dolphins declined sharply by the 1970s as China began to intensively exploit the river for fishing, transport and hydroelectric power. The last known surviving Chinese river dolphin, Qiqi, died in 2002.
23. Long-eared kangaroo
Discovered in 1841, the long-eared kangaroo is an extinct species of the kangaroo family native to southeastern Australia.
It was a small animal, slightly larger and slimmer than its living relative, the red hare kangaroo. The last known specimen of this species was a female captured in August 1889 in New South Wales.
22. Javan tiger
Once common on the Indonesian island of Java, the Javan tiger was a very small subspecies of tiger. During the 20th century, the island's population increased manifold, leading to massive clearing of forests, which were converted into arable land and rice fields.
Habitat pollution and poaching have also contributed to the extinction of this species. The Javan tiger has been considered extinct since 1993.
21. Steller's cow
Steller's cow (or sea cow, or cabbage) is an extinct herbivore marine mammal, which once abounded in the northern part Pacific Ocean.
It was largest representative sirenian order, which includes its closest living relatives - the dugong and the manatee. Hunting of Steller's cows for their meat, skin and fat led to their complete extermination within just 27 years of the species' discovery.
20. Taiwanese clouded leopard
The Taiwan clouded leopard was once endemic to Taiwan and a subspecies clouded leopards, rare Asian cats that were considered an evolutionary link between big and small cats.
Over-logging has destroyed the animals' natural habitat, and the species was declared extinct in 2004 after 13,000 camera traps showed no evidence of Taiwanese clouded leopards.
19. Red gazelle
The rufous gazelle is an extinct species of gazelle that is believed to have lived in the sediment-rich mountainous regions of North Africa.
This species is known to only three individuals, purchased at markets in Algeria and Oman, north of Algeria, in late XIX century. These copies are kept in museums in Paris and London.
18. Chinese paddlefish
Sometimes also called "psefur", the Chinese paddlefish was one of the largest freshwater fish. Uncontrolled overfishing and destruction of natural habitat put the species at risk of extinction in the 1980s.
The last confirmed sighting of this fish was in January 2003 in the Yangtze River, China, and the species has since been considered extinct.
17. Labrador eider
The Labrador eider is believed by some scientists to be the first endemic bird species in North America to disappear after the Columbus Exchange.
It was already a rare bird before the arrival of European settlers, and became extinct soon after. The females were gray in color, while the males were black and white. The Labrador eider had an elongated head with small, beady eyes and a strong beak.
16. Iberian ibex
Once endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, the Iberian ibex was one of four subspecies of the Spanish ibex.
In the Middle Ages wild goat was abundant in the Pyrenees, but the population declined rapidly in the 19th and 20th centuries due to uncontrolled hunting. In the second half of the 20th century, only a small population survived in this region, and in 2000 the last representative of this species was found dead.
15. Mauritian dodo, or dodo
is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius in Indian Ocean. According to subfossil remains, Mauritian dodos were about a meter tall and may have weighed up to 21 kg.
ABOUT appearance Mauritian dodos can only be judged from drawings, images and written sources, therefore the life-time appearance of this bird is not known for certain. The dodo is used in popular culture as a symbol of extinction and the gradual disappearance of a species.
14. Orange Toad
Orange toads were small, up to 5 cm long, toads that used to be found in a small highland region north of the city Monteverde, Costa Rica.
The last living specimen of this animal was discovered in May 1989. Since then, no signs have been recorded confirming their existence in nature. The sudden disappearance of this beautiful frog, may have been caused by a chytridiomycete fungus and extensive habitat loss.
13. Choiseul pigeon
Sometimes also referred to as the tufted thick-billed pigeon, the Choiseul pigeon is an extinct species of pigeon that was endemic to Choiseul Island in the Solomon Islands, although there are unconfirmed reports that members of the species may have lived on some nearby islands.
The last documented sighting of the Choiseul pigeon was in 1904. It is believed that these birds became extinct due to predation by cats and dogs.
12. Cameroonian black rhinoceros
As a subspecies of the black rhinoceros - a critically endangered species of rhinoceros - the Cameroonian black rhinoceros was once widespread throughout many African countries, including Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Chad, Rwanda, Botswana, Zambia and others, but irresponsible hunting and poaching had reduced the population of this amazing animal to just the last few individuals by 2000. In 2011, this subspecies of rhinoceros was declared extinct.
11. Japanese wolf
Also known as the Ezo wolf, the Japanese wolf is an extinct subspecies common wolf, which once inhabited the coast of Northeast Asia. Its closest relatives were North American wolves rather than Asian ones.
The Japanese wolf was exterminated Japanese island Hokkaido during the Meiji Restoration, when American-style agricultural reforms included the use of strychnine baits to kill predators that threatened livestock.
10. Caribbean monk seal
Nicknamed the "sea wolf", the Caribbean monk seal was close-up view seals that inhabited Caribbean. Excessive hunting of seals for oil and depletion of their food sources are the main reasons for the extinction of the species.
The last confirmed sighting of a Caribbean monk seal dates back to 1952. These animals were not seen again until 2008, when the species was officially declared extinct after a five-year search for survivors that came to nothing.
9. Eastern Puma
The eastern cougar is an extinct species of cougar that once lived in northeastern North America. The eastern puma was one of the subspecies of the North American cougar, a large cat that inhabited most USA and Canada.
Eastern cougars were declared extinct by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 2011.
8. Great Auk
The great auk was a large flightless bird of the auk family that became extinct in the mid-19th century. Once widespread throughout the North Atlantic, from Spain, Iceland, Norway and the UK to Canada and Greenland, this beautiful bird was exterminated by man for its fluff, which was used to make pillows.
7. Tarpan
Also known as the Eurasian wild horse, the tarpan is an extinct subspecies wild horse, which once lived throughout most of Europe and some regions of Asia.
Since tarpans were herbivores, their habitat was continuously decreasing due to the growing civilization of the Eurasian continent. Combined with the incredible extermination of these animals for their meat, this has led to their complete disappearance at the beginning of the 20th century.
6. Cape Lion
An extinct subspecies of lion, the Cape lion lived along the Cape Peninsula on the southern tip of the African continent.
This majestic big cat disappeared very quickly immediately after Europeans appeared on the continent. Dutch and English colonists and hunters simply exterminated this species of animal at the end of the 19th century.
5. Falkland fox
Also known as the warra or Falkland wolf, the Falkland fox was the only native land mammals Falkland Islands.
This endemic canid went extinct in 1876, becoming the first known canid to go extinct in historical times. This animal is believed to have lived in burrows and its diet consisted of birds, larvae and insects.
4. Reunion giant tortoise
Endemic to Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean, the Reunion giant tortoise was a large turtle, up to 1.1 meters long.
These animals were very slow, curious and not afraid of people, which made them easy prey for the first inhabitants of the island, who exterminated turtles in a huge number- as food for people and pigs. The Reunion giant tortoise became extinct in the 1840s.
3. Kioea
The kioea was a large, up to 33 cm long, Hawaiian bird that became extinct around 1859.
The kioea was a rare bird even before the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Europeans. Even the native Hawaiians did not seem to know about the existence of this bird.
Only 4 specimens of this beautifully colored bird have survived in different museums. The reason for their extinction still remains unknown.
2. Megaladapis
Informally known as koala lemurs, megaladapis are an extinct genus of giant lemurs that once lived on the island of Madagascar.
To clear the place, the first settlers of the island burned local dense forests, which were natural environment habitat of these lemurs, which, combined with excessive hunting of the animal, significantly contributed to the extinction of these slow-moving animals.
1. Quagga
The quagga is an extinct subspecies of savannah zebra that lived in South Africa until the 19th century.
Because these animals were fairly easy to track and kill, they were hunted en masse by Dutch colonists (and later Boers) for their meat and hides.
Only one single quagga was photographed during its lifetime (see photo), and only 23 skins of these animals have survived to this day.
For the history of mankind biological diversity The planet has undergone several dramatic changes. Some species of animals have disappeared from the surface of the Earth. Main factor global changes - active work person.
There is a fresh chapter in the sad annals of the animal world in which now-extinct animals could be seen in the wild or in zoos just a few years ago. Species of animals that have gone down in history literally before our eyes - in the editorial material.
Mariana Mallard (1981)
The Mariana mallard lived only on three islands in the Pacific Ocean. The species began to disappear in the middle of the last century. The reason for the extinction of the Mariana mallard was work to drain swamps for agricultural needs after World War II.
The last representative of the species died in captivity in 1981.
Canary Black Oystercatcher (1994)
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Next on the list of extinct animals is the Canary Black Oystercatcher. This type birds were widespread on the coast of West Africa.
The Canary Black Oystercatcher was destroyed by the destruction of their main food - shellfish. Excessive commercial fishing in the waters off the coast of West Africa has led to birds starving to death.
The last representative of the species was seen in the late 80s. The species was officially declared extinct in 1994. Only four stuffed Canary Black Oystercatchers survive in the world.
Javan Tiger (1994)
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A subspecies of tiger that inhabited the Indonesian island of Java was also declared extinct in 1994. The reason for the extinction of the Javan tiger was human agricultural activity. With the reduction of habitat, the surviving individuals moved to the mountains.
The situation around the Javan tiger population turned catastrophic in 1950, when only 25 representatives of the species were found on the island.
Iberian ibex (2000)
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During the Middle Ages, the most common animal species on the Iberian Peninsula was the bucardo, or Iberian ibex. The problems began in the 19th century, but the situation became catastrophic in the 20th century. Unable to withstand competition with livestock, which were grazed in the fields where the bucardo lived, the ibex began to die out.
The last Iberian ibex died in an accident in 2000. On January 6, female Celia was found under a tree that had fallen on her. Scientists tried to restore the extinct species in 2009 by resorting to cloning, but the born baby Bucrado lived only 7 minutes.
Black-faced Hawaiian Flower Girl (2004)
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Hawaiian Islands became a habitat for large quantity finch species. In total, scientists have counted 22 species of Hawaiian flower girls, seven of them are now on the verge of extinction, and nine are lost forever. Last on the list of extinctions was the Black-faced Hawaiian Flowerbird, which was declared lost in 2004.
This species was discovered only in 1973, and even then it was considered endangered. There were no more than 200 representatives of the species in captivity.
The black-faced Hawaiian flowerbird is one of the few species whose extinction has not been caused by humans. The reason for the extinction of birds was diseases that came with mosquitoes that appeared on the islands, and a natural reduction in the range of food plants.
Great White Madeira Butterfly (2007)
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The only habitat of the Great White Madeira Butterfly was the forests of Laurisilva on the island of Madeira. The species was officially declared extinct in 2007.
The reason for the disappearance of the Great White Madeira Butterfly was the progressive 20th century. Deforestation, construction of enterprises, pollution of nature - all this added the Madeira butterfly to the list of extinct animals.
Chinese river dolphin (2007)
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The next member of the list of extinct animals may still come back from the “dead.” Declared extinct in 2007, the Chinese river dolphin was spotted and filmed by a Chinese fisherman. After viewing the film, scientists concluded that this could be a representative lost sight, but "resurrect" unique dolphin didn't.
Chinese river dolphins have become a target for fishermen due to their trusting nature. Mammals were not afraid to swim close to the shores. The fact that the Chinese have long considered animals to be river goddesses did not save dolphins from human ignorance.
Caribbean Monk Seal (2008)
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The last animal scientists wanted to recognize as extinct was the Caribbean monarch seal. Last time representatives of this species of monarch seal were seen back in 1952, but it was officially declared extinct only in 2008.
Caribbean monarch seal inhabited the coast and islands Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico from Honduras and Yucatan, east to Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas. Along with the Caribbean monarch seal, the mites that lived only in its nose became extinct.
West African black rhinoceros (2011)
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In 2011, the extinct animals were replenished with a representative of the rhinoceros family - the West African black rhinoceros. This species of rhinoceros was the most numerous in the family, with a sharp decline recorded in the 1970s. Poachers caught the animals and sold the horn on the black market, because, according to legend, the horn of the West African black rhinoceros has healing properties.
By 1995, there were about 2,500 rhinoceroses left, by 2000 - 10, and in 2001 there were 5 left. The last individual was seen in Cameroon in 2006. Since then, experts have not been able to find a single representative of this subspecies.
Galapagos tortoise (2012)
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Until 1972 this species giant turtles was considered extinct, but the last representative of the Galapagos tortoises was discovered on the uninhabited Pinta Peninsula.
A male named Lonesome George settled in Galapagos National Park for 40 years. All attempts to restore the species ended in failure. On June 24, 2012, sanctuary ranger Fausto Liereno, who had been looking after the unique turtle for 40 years, found Lonesome George dead. At the time of his death, George was 100 years old, by the standards of giant tortoises - the prime of his life.
Created 04/24/2012 22:15Is it possible to revive extinct animals? In the 1993 science fiction film "Park" Jurassic"Dinosaurs were cloned after they DNA was found intact in ancient mosquitoes preserved in amber. Although the science of cloning is still in its infancy, many researchers believe that it is only a matter of time before many extinct animals are brought back to life.
Woolly Mammoth
In early 2011, Japanese scientists announced that they planned to clone the woolly cat within five years. mammoth. The clock is ticking and with a little luck these mastodons ice age will become the first inhabitants of the world zoo of extinct animals.
Mammoths are truly worthy candidates for resurrection, since they went extinct very recently, and many intact specimens have been found in the Arctic tundra genetic material. Moreover, since mammoths are close relatives of the living species, elephants, scientists can simplify the process by having an ordinary elephant give birth to a mammoth.
Marsupial wolf
Marsupial, or Tasmanian wolf, who lived in Australia, was, since he was the largest known to science predatory marsupial modern world. This species became extinct as recently as the 1930s, largely due to ruthless hunting by hunters.
Because the species was lost so recently, specimens of the animals remain intact and are kept in museums. Some animal bodies that have been treated by taxidermists and put on display may also still contain DNA. Cloning projects are being developed marsupial wolf, and some of the animal's genes were already successfully expressed in the mouse embryo after they were placed into it genome.
Iberian ibex
Still think that cloning extinct animals is impossible? Technically, this has already been accomplished: the Iberian ibex recently became the first animal to be resurrected from oblivion... for a full seven minutes. A cloned embryo containing reanimated DNA from the last known Pyrenean ibex has been successfully born after being implanted into the womb of a domestic goat. Although Capricorn died seven minutes after birth due to lung problems, this scientific achievement guarantees the inevitability of the resurrection of extinct species.
The last known Pyrenean ibex was a female named Celia, who died after falling from a tree in 2000. It was her DNA that was used to create the short-lived clone.
Sabertooth cat
At the sight of the teeth of this legendary and once dangerous representative felines of the Pleistocene era, you begin to doubt whether it is worth resurrecting at all saber-toothed cats. However, they are definitely promising candidates. Not only did they go extinct relatively recently, around 11,000 years ago, but their fossil remains have survived to this day thanks to the frozen habitat in which they once lived. Some intact samples were also recovered from ancient deposits. resins.
These giant flightless birds, similar in appearance to African ostriches and emus, but without vestigial wings, were once the most big birds in the world. Since moas became extinct due to overhunting only 600 years ago, their feathers and eggs can still be found virtually intact. Moreover, moa DNA has already been isolated from ancient shells, and projects are being developed to resurrect these birds.
Dodo
The dodo is the world's most notorious extinct creature, as the bird was driven to extinction only 80 years after its discovery. Since there were no natural predators in the dodo's habitat on the island of Mauritius, the birds evolved without fear of people, as a result of which they were easily exterminated.
The dodo could soon be revived if scientists find enough DNA to create a clone that can be implanted into the eggs of the birds' close relatives, modern pigeons. For example, DNA samples were recently isolated from exhibits at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, making the dodo an excellent candidate for successful resurrection.
Giant sloth
When you see the remains of an ancient creature, you might think you're looking at big bear. It is actually a giant sloth and is a close relative of modern three-toed sloths. They are well suited for resurrection, since they became extinct relatively recently: giant sloths could roam the planet only 8 thousand years ago at sunrise human civilization. DNA samples have already been obtained from intact hair remains.
Since the only surviving relatives giant sloth very small in comparison, look surrogate mother useless. But one day it will be possible to grow a fetus in an artificial womb.
Carolina parrot
Once upon a time there was a Carolina parrot the only kind parrots that lived in North America. This bird was tragically extirpated due to the demand for feathers, which were a popular decoration for ladies' hats. The last known individual died only in 1918, so stuffed animals, remains of feathers and egg shells can be found in museums, and DNA extraction and cloning will soon become possible. Some historians are already calling for such a project to be started.
Woolly rhinoceros
Woolly mammoths weren't the only big, hairy animals on the frozen tundra Pleistocene period. Woolly rhinoceroses roamed the Arctic snow 10 thousand years ago. This animal can often be seen in rock art.
Reasons to become candidates for resurrection woolly rhinoceroses the same as those of mammoths. Well-preserved specimens are often found in permafrost Arctic.
Passenger pigeon
Only 200 years ago, flocks of passenger pigeons, numbering billions of individuals, filled the skies above North America. By 1914 they were mercilessly exterminated by hunters. Today, thanks to cloning, this once abundant species may get a second chance. Museum specimens, feathers and other remains of these birds can still be found, and thanks to their close relationship with the mourning dove, find surrogate mother it will be easy.
Giant deer
Another giant that fell victim to the end of the Ice Age was the giant deer. Only the horns of this creature were as much as 3.5 meters from edge to edge. As with other animals that lived in the north during the Pleistocene era, preserved specimens of this giant can be easily found in thawing permafrost, making it an early candidate for cloning.
Baiji river dolphin
Declared functionally extinct only in 2006, the Baiji river dolphin was the first cetacean to be lost in modern times, primarily due to human influence. However, due to its very recent extinction, DNA can be easily obtained from the remains. Moreover, measures to isolate and store animal DNA are already underway.
However for river dolphin Baiji, as for many extinct species, the question remains, does this mammal have a habitat to live after resurrection? River system The Yangtze, where the dolphin was found, remains heavily polluted.
Variegated Huia
This unique-billed bird once lived on New Zealand's North Island and became extinct in the early 20th century, when demand for museum specimens peaked. Due in part to the bird's popularity as a mascot and national symbol In New Zealand, a project was recently launched, the cloning and resurrection of the Huia was approved.
Neanderthal
Neanderthal is perhaps the most controversial extinct species to be cloned and resurrected. The reason for the controversy is mainly that we will become the surrogate species! Neanderthal, being a recently extinct member of the Homo family, is considered a subspecies in scientific circles modern man. Their cloning may be both controversial and extremely important discovery. In addition, the Neanderthal clone may be the most viable. Scientists have already completed a rough draft of the species' genome.
The question is not so much whether we could, but rather whether we should...