Go to the list of animal species that have gone extinct in the wild in modern times
(© Nicolas Huet, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
A species is considered “extinct in the wild” (EW) if it survives only under human care as an ex situ population or as a naturalized population outside its historical range. Ex situ conservation plays an important role in species conservation, especially for threatened species whose natural habitat has been destroyed or that are exposed to direct dangers. Despite the efforts of zoos and botanical gardens to preserve threatened species, restoring their wild status is not always successful.
Conserving biodiversity aims to preserve ecological function and prevent ecological extinction. However, reintroducing ex situ populations is often a lengthy process that requires careful planning, research, and monitoring to ensure that the reintroduced animals or plants survive in their new habitat. The habitat into which populations are reintroduced may, for example, differ from their natural habitat. Environmental changes such as habitat destruction, climate change, or the introduction of invasive species can impair the survival of the reintroduced populations.
The Socorro dove, also known as Grayson’s dove, was native exclusively to the volcanic island of Socorro in the eastern Pacific, southwest of North America. It was last documented in the wild in 1972, after Socorro had been used for military purposes from the 1950s onward. The construction of facilities and the military presence led to the destruction of its habitat and the introduction of cats and rats, which ate both the chicks and the eggs of the tame Socorro dove. Despite its extinction in the wild, there are several targeted captive-breeding programs attempting to preserve this species and possibly reintroduce it to its natural habitat.
(Photo: © Johann Alexi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Bali myna, also known as the Bali starling, lived at the time of its discovery in 1910 only in a 50-kilometer coastal strip on the island of Bali. The wild population has been nearly extinct since at least 1994. During a survey in 2015, it was found that fewer than 15 birds were flying in the wild, which indicates the strong impact of the illegal wildlife trade. Further threats include habitat clearance, invasive species, and illegal hunting. The Begawan Foundation has operated a breeding program since 1999 and released a total of 64 Bali mynas on Nusa Penida in 2006 and 2007. Monitoring programs show that the population had increased to more than 100 individuals by 2009; nevertheless, it remains heavily affected by illegal activities.
(Photo: © Doreen Fräßdorf, photographed at the Natural History Museum in Tring, England, 2024)
The Yangtze sturgeon is endemic to China, specifically the Yangtze River and its tributaries. It was last sighted in the 1990s. Habitat changes caused by dam construction have severely affected the fish species’ natural habitat. In addition, the Yangtze sturgeon was heavily overfished, both for its roe (caviar) and its meat. Water pollution in the Yangtze River has also contributed to its decline. Several Chinese aquaculture research institutes have begun breeding Yangtze sturgeon in human care. They focus on preserving the species’ genetic diversity and understanding its reproduction in order to develop successful breeding methods.
(Photo: © Josephe Huët, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Hawaiian crow, originally native to Hawaii’s upland forests, was last documented in the wild in 2002. The main causes of its extinction are habitat loss, diseases such as West Nile virus, and the introduction of invasive species that impair its food sources and reproduction. There have been several reintroduction attempts to return the Hawaiian crow to the wild. The first attempts, in the late 1990s using captive-bred birds, were unsuccessful. Most of the birds did not survive long in the wild. There are currently efforts to save the Hawaiian crow through targeted breeding programs and monitoring strategies. In December 2024, a new attempt was launched to re-establish the species on the island of Maui.
(Photo: © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
The northern white rhinoceros is considered extinct in the wild in Africa, as the last individuals were sighted in the 2000s. The species was still relatively widespread in the 1970s, but suffered a sharp decline due to poaching and habitat loss. It was hunted primarily for its horns, which command high prices on the black market. In 2018, the last known northern white rhinoceros was placed under protection. At present, only two living female individuals remain in Kenya, and they depend on artificial insemination to ensure the species’ survival.
(Photo: © Make it Kenya/Stuart Price, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
The Tequila splitfin, discovered only in 1990, has been considered extinct in the wild since 2003, mainly because of habitat loss, water pollution, and invasive species such as guppies and platies. Before this decline, it had been bred successfully in human care, especially at Chester Zoo. Reintroduction attempts began in 2014, in which 40 males and 40 females were kept in artificial ponds. By 2021, the population had grown to around 10,000 individuals, 1,500 of which were released into the Río Teuchitlán in Mexico. In 2018, the IUCN downlisted the species from “critically endangered” to “endangered”, yet the population remains vulnerable to threats that could jeopardize its survival.
(Photo: © Cedricguppy – Loury Cédric, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Some species that are extinct in the wild are not actually rare, such as the species of the plant genus Brugmansia (angel’s trumpet), which have been cultivated worldwide but no longer occur in the wild. The red-tailed black shark (Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) is also a popular ornamental fish found in countless aquariums around the world, even though it was long considered extinct in nature in its original homeland, Thailand. According to more recent information, some specimens of the species are once again living in the Chao Phraya River.
Detailed pages are available for the following animals that are extinct in the wild:
About the author: Doreen Fräßdorf
Doreen Fräßdorf is the author and publisher of artensterben.de. She researches and writes about extinct and endangered species in the modern era, with a focus on red lists, scientific studies, historical sources, and current conservation efforts. The goal is a clear, evidence-based overview of biodiversity loss and species protection.
She is also the author of a non-fiction book about extinct modern-era mammals.
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