Recently extinct mammals are defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as any mammals that have become extinct since the year 1500 CE. [1] Since then, roughly 80 mammal species have become extinct. [2] Extinction of taxa is difficult to confirm, as a long gap without a sighting is not definitive, but before 1995 a threshold of 50 years without a sighting was used to.
When you think of extinct animals, you might go to a saber-toothed cat, or the infamous dodo. But there are, unfortunately, a lot more recent animals that have gone the way of that ill. From a Galapagos tortoise to one black rhino subspecies, these 11 species have been declared extinct or possibly extinct over the past half.
In this article, we will explore 15 animals that have succumbed to extinction in recent history, each serving as a poignant reminder of our shared responsibility to protect Earth's remaining biodiversity. The number of species at risk for extinction clearly shows that we need to work to conserve and protect currently endangered animals before it's too late. Explore a list of 100 animals that have recently become extinct, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects, and invertebrates.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has announced that several species of animals and plants have now gone extinct. The 2025 list of extinctions includes a bird, a shrew and. Human activities have accelerated biodiversity loss and driven extinction rates to the point that scientists now claim we are living through the Sixth Mass Extinction Event.
Contrary to historical extinction events, this one is not driven by natural disasters but by humans; we have destroyed habitats, introduced non-native species and diseases, hunted, polluted and exacerbated climate change. Extinction, a natural part of Earth's history, has seen species disappear through evolutionary changes or environmental shifts. However, the current rate of species loss is significantly higher than natural background rates.
This accelerated pace of extinctions is largely attributed to human activities, making understanding recent extinctions increasingly important. Defining Recent. Today, we're delving into a sobering topic: recently extinct animals.
Species extinction is accelerating, with many species disappearing due to habitat destruction, invasive species and climate change. Despite conservation efforts, some animals have been officially declared extinct in recent years, and other species remain on the brink.