No new trees had germinated since the late 1600s. In fact, he noticed that all 13 of the remaining trees of this species were about 300 years old. Recently a scientist noticed that a certain species of tree was becoming quite rare on Mauritius. We are just beginning to understand the effects of its extinction on the ecosystem. Of the 45 bird species originally found on Mauritius, only 21 have managed to survive.Īlthough the dodo bird became extinct in 1681, its story is not over. Many others were lost in the 19th century when the dense Mauritian forests were converted into tea and sugar plantations. The dodo bird is just one of the bird species driven to extinction on Mauritius. Within 100 years of the arrival of humans on Mauritius, the once abundant dodo bird was a rare bird.Īlthough the tale of the dodo bird’s demise is well documented, no complete specimens of the bird were preserved there are only fragments and sketches. The combination of human exploitation and introduced species significantly reduced dodo bird populations. The rats, pigs and monkeys made short work of vulnerable dodo bird eggs in the ground nests. Many of the ships that came to Mauritius also had uninvited rats aboard, some of which escaped onto the island.īefore humans and other mammals arrived the dodo bird had little to fear from predators. Later, when the Dutch used the island as a penal colony, pigs and monkeys were brought to the island along with the convicts. Large numbers of dodo birds were killed for food. Weighing up to 50 pounds, the dodo bird was a welcome source of fresh meat for the sailors. The island quickly became a stopover for ships engaged in the spice trade. In 1505, the Portuguese became the first humans to set foot on Mauritius. There were no mammals on the island and a high diversity of bird species lived in the dense forests. It lived and nested on the ground and ate fruits that had fallen from trees. While circumstance eventually left the dodo vulnerable to extinction, evolution is not to blame for the shortsightedness of man.The dodo bird inhabited the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, where it lived undisturbed for so long that it lost its need and ability to fly. Still, their evolution was biologically complex, its success evidenced by the species’ carefree lifestyle, prior to the arrival of settlers at Mauritius. A species with no natural predators, given superior strength and features that could inflict damage on foreign enemies, if only it was able to recognize them as such. Overall, dodo birds were a paradox in both behavior and design-a stout, muscular breed whose attributes translated into an almost comedic appearance. Which is precisely where they built nests, foraged for food and ran about on two short legs. In fact, their physique and lack of predators allowed the dodo to truly thrive at ground-level. The development of these features ensured that flightlessness would never hinder the dodo bird, even on Mauritius’ rocky terrain. It required additional support and increased mobility, too-silent demands, answered by the development of thick leg bones, large kneecaps and a broad pelvis. Of course, a heavier frame didn’t just eliminate the dodo’s ability to fly.
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