Latest news with #extinctspecies
Forbes
17-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
In 1932, Australia Declared ‘War' On This Speedy Land Animal – A Biologist Reveals Who Won
The IUCN, the organization that tracks endangered species, reports 824 confirmed extinct animals dating back to 1500 A.D. – many of which were caused by humans. 824 is the number of confirmed extinct animal species, but the true total is certainly much higher. Some animal groups have been harder hit than others. Birds, for instance, have more confirmed extinctions than any other animal group except gastropods (snails and slugs). Digging deeper, flightless birds have been especially hard hit, with one study estimating that 160+ species of flightless birds have perished since humans came into existence. Island-dwelling ratites, like the elephant bird and giant moa, are among the most striking casualties. So, when I tell you that the Australian government waged all-out war on the emu, a flightless bird endemic to the Australian continent, and lost, you might wonder how – especially when humans have been so effective at ridding the planet of just about every other flightless bird known to exist. Here's the story of Australia's failed attempt to eradicate the emu in the early 1930s. The Emu War began in Western Australia, not long after World War I. In the aftermath of the war, many veterans were granted land in the Campion district as part of a government-backed agricultural settlement scheme. These men, many of whom had little farming experience, worked to convert the land into productive wheat fields. Just as the crops began to mature, a foe appeared: thousands upon thousands of emus. Driven inland by the seasonal migration and attracted by the abundant water and food of the farms, as many as 20,000 emus descended on the wheat fields. The large birds trampled fences, damaged infrastructure, and devoured crops. For already struggling farmers, it was a disaster. Desperate, the farmers appealed to the federal government for help. The request was unusual but somehow approved: they asked for military assistance to deal with the emus. In November 1932, the Australian Army deployed soldiers armed with Lewis machine guns – relics of the Great War – and nearly 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The operation was led by Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery. It sounded simple: locate emus, shoot emus, problem solved. But it wasn't simple. Despite being flightless, emus are fast, agile, and extremely difficult to herd. The birds often scattered into small groups that proved hard to target efficiently. The soldiers struggled to get close enough for effective shooting, and the emus' speed (up to 40 miles per hour) allowed them to outrun many attacks. In one instance, the military mounted a gun on a truck, only for the terrain to be so bumpy that it rendered the gun useless while chasing birds. Over several days, the operation turned into an exercise in futility. By early December, the mission was called off. Official estimates suggest that out of the 2,500 rounds fired, only about 1,000 emus were killed – a far cry from the complete eradication farmers had hoped for. Worse, the emus had simply adapted. They split into smaller, more evasive groups and seemed to learn to avoid danger zones. One ornithologist later quipped that the emus had 'won every round' of the campaign. The press, meanwhile, had a field day. Newspapers dubbed it the "Emu War" and criticized the government's absurd militarized solution to what was essentially a pest problem. The whole thing became a national embarrassment – and eventually, a global curiosity. In the end, the government withdrew the troops and opted for a bounty system instead. Farmers could earn money for every emu they killed, and over time, the population was somewhat controlled, but never eliminated. By every reasonable metric, the emus won. The military was forced to retreat, the emus returned to their stomping grounds, and to this day, they roam freely across much of Australia. The Great Emu War stands as an example of a conflict in history where animals outmaneuvered an army. Does thinking about the possible extinction of a species change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.
Forbes
11-05-2025
- Science
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The Biggest Bird The World Has Ever Known. Hint: It Went Extinct During The Dark Ages
Madagascar is home to some of the world's most unique flora and fauna. And, up until about a ... More thousand years ago, it was home to the world's largest known bird species. Meet Madagascar's legendary elephant bird. The name pretty much sums it up – this bird was a true gargantuan. Weighing 2,000+ pounds and measuring up to 10 feet tall, a quick glance at one of these impressive animals might leave you wondering if you just saw a dinosaur. Unlike dinosaurs, however, humans of Madagascar frequently crossed paths with elephant birds, until their extinction around 1000 A.D. Here's the story of these flightless behemoths, from beginning to end. The elephant bird, or Aepyornis maximus, was a member of the ratite group — a classification that includes ostriches, emus, and kiwis. But the elephant bird made even the ostrich – which holds the title as the world's largest extant bird – look petite. With its massive legs and thick body, the elephant bird was built for power, not speed. It couldn't fly, but it didn't need to. With few natural predators on Madagascar, it ruled the island's forests and plains for millennia. An elephant bird — the extinct giant of Madagascar. Fossil records show that these gargantuan birds laid gargantuan eggs. A single elephant bird egg could reach over 13 inches in length and hold about two gallons of liquid – equivalent to 150 chicken eggs. These eggs remain among the largest ever discovered and have been found intact centuries after the bird's extinction, occasionally washing up along Madagascar's coasts or unearthed by farmers and archaeologists. Despite their intimidating size, elephant birds were likely herbivores, browsing on fruits, leaves, and low-lying plants. They moved slowly through the forest, using their sheer bulk to navigate through thick vegetation. (Sidebar: While the elephant bird was the heaviest bird to ever walk the Earth, it wasn't the tallest — see here to learn about New Zealand's towering, wingless wonder.) Surprisingly, scientists believe the closest living relatives of elephant birds are not ostriches or emus, but the much smaller, flightless kiwi of New Zealand — based on ancient DNA analysis. These genetic studies have also revealed that elephant birds comprised several distinct species on Madagascar, with deep evolutionary splits that justify placing them into two separate families. The elephant bird's disappearance coincides closely with the expansion of human settlement in Madagascar, estimated around 500 to 1000 A.D. This timeline suggests that human activity played a major role in their extinction. Although there's little direct evidence of elephant birds being hunted to extinction, the impact of human settlement – deforestation, habitat loss, and egg harvesting – would have drastically reduced their population. The enormous eggs, in particular, were easy targets. A single egg could feed an entire family, making them a highly attractive resource. Burning and land-clearing practices for agriculture may have further disrupted their breeding grounds and food supply. An elephant bird egg (left) compared to a chicken egg (right). The extinct elephant bird laid the ... More largest eggs of any known vertebrate — capable of holding the equivalent of more than 150 chicken eggs. Today, elephant birds live on only in legend, bones and the occasional egg in a museum. They've also inspired fantastical tales – Marco Polo wrote of enormous birds in Madagascar capable of lifting elephants, likely a distorted memory of elephant bird lore. These stories helped fuel the myth of the Roc, a giant bird from Middle Eastern mythology. Scientists continue to study elephant bird remains to better understand Madagascar's prehistoric ecosystem, and the consequences of rapid human-induced environmental change. Their story serves as a cautionary tale: even the most powerful creatures can vanish when faced with the pressures of habitat destruction and overexploitation. And yet, there's a great sense of awe and wonder surrounding these creatures. Their eggs are coveted by collectors and researchers alike. Their bones continue to yield new insights into ancient biodiversity. And their image – massive, mysterious, and extinct – reminds us of the fragility of life on islands, where evolution often runs wild but cannot always outrun human presence. Does thinking about the extinction of a species instantly change your mood? Take the Connectedness to Nature Scale to see where you stand on this unique personality dimension.
