了解已灭绝的动物

What can we learn from looking at fossils?

Why it is important to learn from our past when studying fossils?

The Science Behind the Science
So, what is extinction?

Extinction is where a species of animal is no longer alive. There are different levels of extinction. For example, a species can be extinct in the wild but living in captivity, either in a zoo or a conservation area, or a species can be extinct to a certain area. 

It is a common misconception that a species is classified as extinct after a period of 50 years without a sighting, however the actual process for declaring a species as extinct is much more complex.

There have been six mass extinctions over the course of the Earth's history. The most well-known extinction is that of the dinosaurs, which happened 65 million years ago. Not many know, however, that we are now also living in a period of mass extinction. 

Endangered animals

Like extinction, there are many different levels of endangerment. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List is the most comprehensive list of endangered species. All of the known species of plant and animal in the world are recorded in the list and are categorised depending on their level of endangerment. There are six categories and these are: Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct. 

Human intervention

Humans are the dominant cause for the extinctions and endangerments seen today. Land use change, deforestation, desertification, and anthropogenic climate change have all contributed to this. There are, however, numerous conservation sites around the world that protect animals from extinction, and breeding programmes which aim to re-establish populations in the wild.