Extinction Epidemic: 24 Species Lost Forever in the Last Century

In the last century, the world has witnessed a heartbreaking number of animal extinctions, with 24 species disappearing forever. This extinction epidemic is the result of human activity and environmental changes, which have pushed countless creatures to the brink.

One of the most notable losses is the smooth handfish, a unique marine species that lived off the coast of Tasmania. Known for its unusual "walking" behavior, the smooth handfish was the first bony fish to go extinct in modern times, succumbing to overfishing and habitat degradation by 2020.

Another tragic example is the Bramble Cay melomys, a small rodent confined to a tiny coral island on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. This mammal became the first extinction directly attributed to global warming, as its low-lying habitat was steadily submerged by rising sea levels.

The Yangtze River dolphin, or baiji, was a cultural icon in China, revered as a peaceful river spirit. However, industrial development along the Yangtze turned its waters into an uninhabitable wasteland, leading to the dolphin's extinction by 2006 due to overfishing, ship traffic, and pollution.

These stories of loss serve as cautionary tales, highlighting the fragility of life on Earth and the urgent need for comprehensive conservation efforts to protect the remaining species from a similar fate.