Top 10 Extinct Animals (alive only in photographs).

We have killed more species of animals than criminals arrested

in the last five decades. We may try to ignore the facts but

the experience of seeing (and / or photographing) an animal and

then realizing that the animal only be alive in a photograph is

not a happy thought. Here is a list of Top 10 Extinct Animals

(alive only in photographs).

Meanwhile, each day we welcome 2,10,000 more humans on

this planet; 15 lakh more every week! This is why mankind calls

itself a virus. For instance, 78 percent of marine mammals are

now endangered due solely to accidental death and one in

every

four mammals are threatened because of habitat

damage. According to recent stats, Asia has the most

endangered species at 79 percent.

Tasmanian Tiger

The Tasmanian Tiger was the largest carnivorous

marsupial of modern history. Despite being termed as

a 'tiger,' it wasn’t even vaguely related to cats, its closest

living relative is the Tasmanian Devil.

The principal cause of its extinction was mass hunting, though

the last one died in the Hobart Zoo, in Tasmania, Australia,

on September 7, 1936 due to neglect!

Quagga

The Quagga was the queer brother of the zebra. The stripes

on a Quagga were limited to its frontal portion and the

rest of the body was similar to a horse with the exception

of white feet. Photographs are the only proof that this animal

ever existed. By 1870s, they were all killed, the last one died

at a zoo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on August 12, 1883.

Passenger Pigeon

How can a bird, whose biggest flock recorded in 1820s

consisted of a billion birds be extinct in only 100

years? During colonization the slaves and the poor were

encouraged to hunt pigeon for food and pigeon

meat was commercialized as cheap food. Farmers

also had a grievance against their vast numbers. So

as a solution they terminated the species. The last known

Passenger Pigeon, named “Martha”, died in captivity on

September 1, 1914, in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1896

Golden Toad

An Australian biologist Tim Flannery has described the

extinction of the Golden Toad to be the first demise of a

species due primarily to global warming. Recognized

by its bright golden-orange color, the species was last

sighted in 1989.

Caribbean Monk Seal

In 1491 Columbus, during his voyage, wrote about tiny

‘sea wolfs’; his team hunted and ate eight of them. The

trend ended in 1952, when all the monk seals were

extinct. The species was officially declared extinct just

last year, on June 6, 2008.

Pyrenean Ibex

The last known Pyrenean Ibex died on January 6, 2000.

However the species was brought back to life. This year

in January, Pyrenean Ibex became the first ever

species to be brought back into existence through

cloning. Though the newborn died just seven minutes

after due to lung failure, the events have raised optimism.

Bubal Hartebeest

The Bubal Hartbeest was first domesticated by the

Egyptians and even has a mention in the Old

Testament. The mythological aura however wasn’t

resilient enough to save it from European hunters.

The last was probably a female which died in the Paris Zoo

in 1923.

Tecopa Pupfish

The Tecopa Pupfish was the first species to be declared

extinct under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The

fish were first discovered in the Tecopa Hot Springs in California

in 1942. The springs were replaced with bathhouses, hotels

and trailer parks for tourists.

Pink Headed Duck

Pink headed ducks were natives of north-east India. They are

now extinct. However no official statement on this matter has

been provided. There have been only two sightings of this

shy bird, both in Myanmar; however the sightings have

failed to provide any proof. The photograph was taken in1930.

Susu Dolphin

Susu Dolphin or the Ganga Dolphine are not extinct,

however only 500 of the lot are alive. I give them five more

years.