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AnimalsTranscript
00:00Over the last 150 years, numerous animal species have faced extinction,
00:05leaving behind only photographic records of their existence.
00:08Although these creatures no longer roam the Earth, their final moments have been captured through images.
00:13Today, we're taking a look at 15 last known photos of animals before they went extinct.
00:19Starting with number 15, the Golden Toad.
00:22The Golden Toad was a species of small amphibian that was once native to the high-altitude cloud forests of Costa Rica's Montverde region.
00:30It gained fame for its striking bright golden-orange coloration and became somewhat of an icon of tropical biodiversity.
00:37First discovered in 1966, the fully-grown adults measured just about 2 inches, or 5 centimeters, in length,
00:43and they were of interest to researchers not just because of their color, but also for their unique breeding habits.
00:48The breeding season was short, taking place during the brief rainy period between April and June.
00:53During this time, males, which were more brightly colored than the females, would gather in temporary pools to attract mates,
01:00leading to a spectacular event where hundreds of them would compete for the best position.
01:05The last confirmed sighting of the Golden Toad, however, was in 1989.
01:09Its rapid decline and subsequent disappearance have been put down to a combination of factors,
01:14the biggest of which is climate change, as this led to changes in weather patterns and a reduction in mist frequency in their natural cloud forest habitat.
01:22This alteration in the microclimate has had a major impact on breeding pools,
01:26either causing them to dry up completely or making them less available during the narrow breeding window.
01:31Some further factors contributing to their extinction are habitat loss and some fragmentation.
01:36As human activities expanded, the once-pristine cloud forests of Montverde faced deforestation and degradation,
01:42reducing the available habitat of these toads.
01:45And additionally, the spread of a chytrid fungus, which is a problematic pathogen for amphibians around the world,
01:50caused a population collapse, and for a species that was only ever found in one specific place,
01:56there was no way for them to survive once the disease was introduced.
02:04The Pinta Island tortoise was a species of Galapagos tortoise that was native to Pinta Island,
02:09one of the northernmost islands in the Galapagos archipelago.
02:12Known for their large size and distinctive shell shape, which were adaptations to their specific environment,
02:18adult Pinta Island tortoises could weigh over 440 pounds, or over 200 kilograms,
02:23and live well over a century, like some other Galapagos tortoise species.
02:27Their diet primarily consisted of cacti, grasses, and other vegetation,
02:32and they played a crucial role in the ecological balance by serving as a natural lawnmower that shaped the island's vegetation.
02:38The decline of the tortoise began in the 18th and 19th century with the arrival of whalers and buccaneers.
02:45These sailors not only hunted the tortoises for food, but also introduced invasive species such as goats to the island.
02:51These goats quickly became a destructive invasive species,
02:54overgrazing and devastating the native vegetation that the tortoises relied on for food,
03:00and this ecological disruption, combined with direct exploitation, led to a steep decline in tortoise numbers.
03:07In 1971, a single male tortoise, later named Lonesome George, was discovered on Pinta Island,
03:13and he was the last known individual of his species.
03:16His discovery sparked international attention and efforts to find a mate for him in a bid to save them,
03:21but despite these efforts, Lonesome George never successfully reproduced.
03:25He passed away in 2012, marking the extinction of the Pinta Island tortoise,
03:30and his story highlights the impact of human activity on biodiversity, even in places like the Galapagos Islands.
03:36There are still several giant tortoise species remaining,
03:39and after the Pinta Island ones dwindle, conservation efforts are underway to try to prevent this from happening to any others.
03:50The Bramble Cay melamys, as unassuming as it may first appear,
03:54represented an unfortunate milestone in the ever-changing biodiversity on our planet,
03:58as it's considered to be the first mammalian species to have become extinct due to human activity.
04:04This small rodent was once the sole inhabitant of Bramble Cay,
04:08which is a tiny coral cay in the Torres Strait near the northern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
04:14It was a small, brown, nocturnal rodent adapted to life in a very specialized and limited way.
04:19Its diet primarily consisted of vegetation,
04:22and it was particularly dependent on the cay's limited plant life for food and shelter.
04:27The species was first scientifically described in 1858, and for many years it thrived in its isolated environment.
04:33Over time, however, it faced a series of environmental challenges that ultimately led to its extinction.
04:39The most significant factor was the impact of climate change,
04:42which caused rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
04:47These changes led to the repeated flooding and long-term alteration of Bramble Cay,
04:51which resulted in a dramatic reduction in the island's vegetation.
04:55With their habitat shrinking and food sources becoming increasingly scarce,
04:59the population of the melamys began to decline rapidly.
05:03Despite conservation efforts, including attempts to locate and possibly relocate individuals to a more secure environment,
05:09no living specimens were found in multiple surveys conducted since 2004.
05:14In 2016, the Bramble Cay melamys was formally declared extinct by the Australian government,
05:20based on extensive environmental and scientific assessments.
05:24Number 12. The Yangtze River Dolphin
05:28The Yangtze River Dolphin, which is also known as the Baiji,
05:31was a species that once inhabited the Yangtze River in China in huge numbers.
05:35This freshwater dolphin was revered in Chinese culture, often referred to as the goddess of the Yangtze,
05:42and there was a time when large pods of them would be seen swimming in the waters.
05:46The Baiji was a medium-sized dolphin, growing up to 8 feet or about 2.5 meters in length.
05:51It was known for its slender body, long beak, and small eyes that had adapted to the murky waters of the Yangtze.
05:57Relying mainly on their heightened echolocation abilities that allowed them to navigate and hunt in the river.
06:02Historically, they played a critical role in the river's ecosystem, serving as an apex predator,
06:08and helped keep control over the population numbers of countless other species.
06:12Problems for the ongoing survival of the Baiji began in the late 20th century,
06:16driven by China's rapid industrialization and economic development.
06:20The Yangtze River, one of the world's busiest waterways, became heavily polluted
06:24due to the discharge of industrial and residential waste.
06:27This was bad enough for the dolphins, but when combined with increased river traffic,
06:31overfishing, and the construction of dams and other structures that significantly disrupted the habitat,
06:36their population numbers began to fall drastically.
06:39The extensive conservation efforts, including the establishment of the reserves and breeding programs,
06:44were implemented in the late 20th century and early 21st.
06:48These proved to be too little too late, and the comprehensive survey in 2006
06:52failed to find any surviving individuals in the river,
06:55leading scientists to declare this species functionally extinct.
06:59This marked the first time a large mammal species was documented to have gone extinct
07:04primarily due to human activity on record, but it likely won't be the last.
07:10Number 11. Black-Faced Honeycreeper
07:13The black-faced honeycreeper, also known as po'oli, was a bird species endemic to Hawaii,
07:18specifically to the island of Maui.
07:20Discovered relatively recently in 1973, the po'olis had become in many ways the figurehead
07:26of the rapid decline of many native Hawaiian bird species,
07:29primarily due to human impact and invasive species.
07:32Identifiable by its distinct black face, which contrasts with its otherwise brown and beige plumage,
07:38the po'oli was a small bird, approximately 5 inches or 13 centimeters in length.
07:42It had a short, stout bill that had adapted for its diet, which primarily consisted of insects and snails,
07:48and made it unlike other honeycreepers that primarily feed on nectar.
07:52This unique diet reflects its adaptation to the dense rainforests of Maui's slopes,
07:57where it resides, but also why it was more vulnerable than other species
08:01when habitats began to change drastically.
08:04The rapid collapse of the po'oli population was caused by various factors.
08:08Habitat destruction due to deforestation and land development was the biggest problem,
08:13as these activities significantly reduced their natural habitat,
08:16but also the introduction of non-native species such as mosquitoes,
08:20which carry diseases like avian malaria and avian pox, and had a devastating impact.
08:26The po'oli, like many Hawaiian birds, evolved in isolation and lacked natural immunity to any of these.
08:32Conservation efforts for the po'oli also faced numerous challenges.
08:35Attempts to breed the bird in captivity were unsuccessful,
08:38partly due to the difficulty in finding and capturing the few remaining individuals in the wild.
08:43Furthermore, the inaccessibility of their habitat in the dense, mountainous forests of Maui
08:48made conservation efforts particularly challenging.
08:51As of the early 21st century, the po'oli's numbers were critically low,
08:55with the species teetering on the brink of extinction,
08:57and the last sighting of one in the wild came in 2004.
09:00A study in 2018, finding no sign of them, recommended that they be declared extinct,
09:06and as of 2019, they had been.
09:09Number 10. Tarpon
09:11The tarpon, or Eurasian wild horse, was once widespread across Europe and Western Asia.
09:17It played a significant role in the evolution of the domestic horse
09:20and were some of the first animals to be domesticated by humans.
09:23They were relatively small compared to modern domestic horses that we're familiar with,
09:28standing about 55 inches or 140 centimeters at the shoulder,
09:31and had a robust build, with a thick neck and a short, sturdy mane.
09:35Their coat was typically mouse gray, helping them to blend into their habitat,
09:39with a darker mane and tail, and often a characteristic dark stripe along their back.
09:44The lifestyle of the tarpon was well-adapted to the harsh environments of the steppes
09:48and forests where they roamed.
09:50They were herbivores, grazing on the tough grasses and plants found in their habitats,
09:55and living in small herds, they had a social structure
09:57that helped them survive the threats of predators and the harsh winter.
10:01Their behavior and social dynamics were crucial in understanding the wild horse behaviors,
10:06and they were studied in detail to learn how to manage and conserve other wild equine species.
10:11Despite being present in such large numbers,
10:13their population numbers began to fall with the spread of agriculture
10:16and the growth of human populations in Europe and Asia.
10:19As humans altered the landscape, the tarpon's habitat was greatly reduced,
10:24and at the same time, hunting pressure also increased,
10:27as tarpons were sought after for their meat and captured for domestication.
10:31By the 19th century, they had dwindled significantly.
10:34The last known wild tarpon died in 1879 in Ukraine,
10:38and even though efforts were made to preserve the species,
10:41including attempts to breed them in captivity,
10:43they were unsuccessful in maintaining the pure tarpon lineage,
10:47leading to the last individual with tarpon ancestry,
10:50dying in a Russian zoo in 1909.
10:52The extinction of the tarpon did, though,
10:55have an important impact on the way people thought of conservation.
10:58It highlighted the vulnerability of species to human activities
11:02and influenced the development of modern conservation practices.
11:05In recent years, there have been efforts to recreate the tarpon
11:08through selective breeding of domestic horses with tarpon-like features
11:12in rewilding projects.
11:15While these horses are not genetically identical to the original tarpons,
11:18they could potentially bring elements of the species back for future generations.
11:24Number 9. The Madarin Large White Butterfly
11:27The Madarin large white butterfly was a distinct subspecies
11:31of the large white butterfly that was natively exclusive to the Madera archipelago,
11:36particularly the island of Madera,
11:38which is off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
11:41Similar in appearance to its relatives,
11:43the large white butterfly is found across Europe and North Africa.
11:46It was characterized by its relatively large size,
11:49with a wingspan reaching up to 3 inches or about 7 centimeters.
11:52The butterfly had creamy white wings with black tips on the forewings.
11:56But unlike its mainland counterparts,
11:58the Madarin large white had a more pronounced black pattern on its wings,
12:02which was an adaptation that distinguished it from other large white subspecies.
12:06This butterfly was part of the unique biodiversity of Madera,
12:09and it was vital to the pollination of various native plants.
12:13Its caterpillars primarily fed on the species of Brassicaceae family,
12:17which includes cabbages and mustards.
12:19But it was this diet that made the large white particularly vulnerable
12:22to changes in agricultural practices and plant availability.
12:26The introduction of agricultural pesticides in the 20th century
12:29played a significant role in its ultimate demise,
12:32as these were chemicals intended to protect crops from pests.
12:35Inadvertently, they harmed the butterfly caterpillars,
12:38which were feeding on the same plants.
12:40Further to this, the alteration of the island's natural habitat
12:43due to urbanization and the expansion of agriculture
12:46led to a loss of the native plant life on which these butterflies depended.
12:50By the mid-20th century, sightings of the Madarin large white became increasingly rare,
12:55and it was last observed in the 1970s.
12:58Despite subsequent searches, no individuals have been found,
13:01leading experts to declare it extinct,
13:03an event that highlighted the impact of humans on fragile island ecosystems
13:08and the potential risks of farming activities,
13:10particularly with the use of pesticides.
13:13Number 8. The Quagga
13:15The Quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra that we're all familiar with,
13:20and it was a strange-looking animal that roamed the plains of South Africa
13:23until its extinction in the late 19th century.
13:26The species was distinctive for its unusual pattern of stripes.
13:29Unlike other zebras, its striping was limited to the front half of its body,
13:33with the rear being brown and without stripes,
13:36more like you'd expect of a horse.
13:38First described in the late 18th century,
13:40the Quagga was about 8.5 feet or about 2.5 meters long,
13:44and 4.5 feet or 1.35 meters tall at the shoulder.
13:47Its front displayed the typical black and white zebra stripes,
13:50which faded along the midsection and were absent on the hindquarters,
13:54which were a tawny color.
13:56And it was this unique coloration that made the Quagga
13:58one of the most distinctive members of the zebra family.
14:01It once inhabited South Africa's Karoo and southern Free State regions.
14:05They lived in small herds and were adapted to a semi-arid environment,
14:09where their diet was made up of grasses.
14:11They were, as a result, a hugely important part of the local ecosystem,
14:14but this would soon come to an end with extensive human development in the 17th century.
14:19The arrival of Dutch settlers in South Africa
14:21saw them being extensively hunted for their meat and hides,
14:24and also because they were seen as a competitor for grazing land with domestic livestock.
14:29By the 19th century, their numbers had fallen drastically because of these reasons.
14:33The last known wild Quagga died in 1878,
14:37and the last captive one died in Amsterdam Zoo in 1883,
14:40when they were declared to be extinct.
14:42This may not be the end of the story, however,
14:45because the Quagga was also the first extinct animal to have its DNA analyzed,
14:49a process that's revealed it to be a subspecies of the plain zebra,
14:53not a distinct species that had previously been believed.
14:56In recent years, an initiative called the Quagga Project
14:59was started in South Africa with the aim of breeding a line of zebras
15:03that physically resembled the extinct Quagga.
15:05This selective breeding program, while unable to resurrect the original genetic lineage,
15:10aims to bring awareness to conservation and the impact of human activity on wildlife.
15:16Moving on to number 7, the Carolina parakeet.
15:19The Carolina parakeet was the only parrot species native to the eastern United States,
15:25and is sadly one of the few birds in North America to have become extinct in the modern era.
15:30Once present in huge numbers, with large flocks stretching from the Ohio Valley to the Gulf of Mexico,
15:36and along the east coast as far as New York,
15:39they once lit up the sky with their vibrant colors.
15:42But of course, this is no longer the case.
15:44Known for its bright green plumage, yellow head, and red around the eyes and beak,
15:49the Carolina parakeet was a striking presence in its habitats,
15:52which ranged from dense forests to swamps and river valleys.
15:56They measured about 14 inches or 35 centimeters in length,
15:59and were social and noisy birds with loud, high-pitched calls.
16:03Their diet primarily consisted of seeds, fruits, and occasionally insects,
16:07and because they evolved such large numbers and with very few natural predators,
16:11they had some unusual traits that would contribute to their downfall when human civilization began to expand.
16:17One of these unique aspects of the Carolina parakeet was their strong social bonds.
16:21These birds were known to have a compelling sense of loyalty to their flock,
16:25and particularly to wounded companions,
16:28so they'd fly back to the site of trouble to try to rescue those that hadn't made it.
16:32Hunters, therefore, found that soon after shooting a few parakeets,
16:35others would return to the same spot, making them easy targets,
16:39and meaning entire flocks could be taken in very little time.
16:42Habitat destruction also played a huge role in their population collapse,
16:46as European settlements expanded,
16:48leading to the clearing of large regions of forest for agriculture and timber.
16:52They were also hunted extensively for their feathers,
16:54which were used in hat-making industry and for crop protection,
16:58as they were considered a pest by farmers due to their fruit-eating habits.
17:01And to add to these problems, the introduction of honeybees,
17:04which competed with the parakeets for nesting holes and diseases brought on by domesticated birds,
17:09it also caused huge issues.
17:11By the late 19th century, the Carolina parakeet population had dwindled dramatically,
17:16and the last known wild specimen was killed in Okeechobee County, Florida, in 1904.
17:21With the last captive bird dying in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918,
17:25marking the species' extinction.
17:31There was a time when tigers were present across Asia and even Europe,
17:35but over the centuries their population numbers have fallen so much
17:39that they're now only in a few regions where they can still be found.
17:42The Bali tiger, for example, was once a predator on the Indonesian island of Bali,
17:46that became the first of the tiger subspecies to become extinct in the 20th century.
17:51Smaller than most of its mainland cousins,
17:53they were adapted to the dense forest habitats of the island.
17:56Males typically weighed about 220 pounds or 100 kilograms,
18:00with females being slightly smaller.
18:02And they had a deep, rich coat color,
18:04shortened fur and smaller stripes compared to other tiger subspecies.
18:08As an apex predator on the island,
18:10they helped to maintain the balance between prey species and vegetation,
18:14with a diet made up of mainly wild pigs, rusa deer,
18:17and occasionally smaller animals like birds and monkeys.
18:20As Bali's human population grew, though,
18:23the tiger's habitat was significantly reduced.
18:26The forests where they lived were cleared for agricultural land,
18:29and the tigers were hunted as perceived threats to livestock and for their body parts,
18:34which were valued in traditional medicine and as trophies.
18:37Also finding that their natural prey was also being hunted by humans for food,
18:41it soon became clear that their days were numbered.
18:43By the early 20th century,
18:45the Bali tiger's numbers had fallen far faster than anyone had thought possible,
18:49with the last confirmed sighting of a Bali tiger being in 1937.
18:53As it happened so quick,
18:54there was no time to even consider beginning a conservation program to save them.
18:58And by the 1940s, they were declared extinct.
19:05The Tacopa pupfish was a small species of fish
19:08that was perfectly adapted to live in the hot spring pools of the Mojave Desert
19:12in Inyo County, California.
19:14No larger than 2 inches or 5 centimeters in length,
19:17they thrived in the warm alkaline waters of springs
19:20where temperatures could exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit,
19:23or about 43 Celsius.
19:25It was amazing that the fish were able to tolerate such high temperatures,
19:28which is particularly unusual for fish.
19:31And to do this, they also had to adapt to the available food,
19:34so had a diet made up of algae and small invertebrates.
19:37The problem with this heightened level of specialism
19:40is the Tacopa pupfish was only endemic to just two springs,
19:44the Tacopa Hot Springs and the nearby Fish Lake Valley Hot Springs.
19:47This limited range made the species really vulnerable to environmental changes,
19:51and this meant there was nowhere for them to go
19:53when things began to alter as a result of human activities.
19:56In the 1960s, the Tacopa Hot Springs were developed into a tourist attraction,
20:00which drastically altered the habitat,
20:03as the construction of bathhouses and the redirection of water flow
20:06for recreational use led to the shrinking of the springs
20:09and changes in water temperature and chemistry,
20:12which were critical for the pupfish's survival.
20:15Efforts to save the species included attempts to establish populations
20:18in other similar habitats and in captivity,
20:21but these attempts were unsuccessful.
20:23The Tacopa pupfish was officially declared extinct in 1970,
20:27making it one of the first species to be listed as extinct
20:30under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
20:37The thylacine, which was more commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger
20:40or Tasmanian wolf, was a marsupial carnivore
20:43native to Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea.
20:46It has become one of the most famous extinct creatures in recent times
20:50because of the suggestions that they may still have survived,
20:53but there's no actual evidence to back this up.
20:55The species was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times,
20:59and even though looking like they may have been related to some mammals,
21:03they were a completely separate type of animal.
21:05Slender and dog-like in appearance,
21:07they had a stiff tail and an abdominal pouch,
21:10and a coat that was sandy or brown,
21:12with distinct dark stripes across the back and tail.
21:15Adults could grow up to 6 feet or 180 centimeters
21:18from the nose to the tail tip,
21:19and would weigh about 66 pounds or about 30 kilograms.
21:22The natural habitat of the thylacine included wetlands, grasslands, and forests,
21:27and they were apex predators, feeding mainly on small animals
21:30such as birds, rodents, and marsupials.
21:32And it was following the arrival of European settlers in Australia
21:36who began to drastically change these environments that led to their decline.
21:40They were extensively hunted, being seen as a threat to livestock, particularly sheep,
21:45and the introduction of dogs, habitat destruction,
21:47and competition with other introduced species like dingoes,
21:50further caused their numbers to fall.
21:52By the early 20th century, thylacines had become extremely rare in the wild,
21:56and by that time it was too late to try to do anything about it.
21:59The last known thylacine, named Benjamin, died in captivity in Hobart Zoo, Tasmania, in 1936.
22:05Just two months after the species was granted protected status.
22:09Since then, there have been numerous unconfirmed sightings
22:12and attempts to rediscover the species in the wild,
22:14but with almost 90 years since the last one was definitely seen,
22:18they are considered extinct.
22:20Number 3. The Western Black Rhino
22:24The Western Black Rhino was a subspecies of the Black Rhinoceros,
22:27and was once widespread in several African countries,
22:30including Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, and Nigeria.
22:34Sadly though, it was declared extinct as recently as 2011,
22:37mainly due to poaching and the lack of effective conservation measures.
22:41Physically, the Western Black Rhino was similar to other Black Rhinos,
22:44and it only differed by a pointed upper lip,
22:46which was well suited for grasping leaves and twigs from bushes and trees.
22:50As mega-herbivores, they were hugely important for the environment,
22:54helping to shape the African landscape.
22:56Their grazing habits influenced the vegetation structure,
22:59and it facilitated a healthy ecological balance,
23:02and they also served as an important species for ecotourism,
23:05which could be a significant economic resource for local communities.
23:09Still though, poaching remained a huge problem
23:11because of the demand for rhino horn in traditional Asian medicine,
23:15where it was wrongly believed to have curative properties.
23:18Despite a lack of scientific evidence to support these claims,
23:21the high value of rhino horn led to the continual hunting,
23:24which combined with civil unrest and poor law enforcement
23:27in regions where rhinos lived, meant there was little to protect them.
23:31Conservation efforts, including legal protection
23:33and the establishment of wildlife reserves, were implemented,
23:36but they were insufficient, and they came far too late for the Western Black Rhino.
23:40By the time concerted efforts were made, the numbers were too low,
23:43and the remaining populations were too fragmented to recover.
23:50The Passenger Pigeon was once the most commonly seen bird in North America,
23:54and possibly the world,
23:56with many billions of them living in a range of different environments.
23:59Renowned for its vast flocks and the speed of its flight,
24:02they had a slender build with a length of about 16 inches or about 40 centimeters,
24:06and were recognizable by their striking coloration,
24:09with males having a blue-gray head and coppery breast,
24:12and females being more subdued in color.
24:15The birds were highly sociable, forming immense flocks
24:18that could darken the sky for hours as they passed,
24:20and they mainly fed on nuts, seeds, and fruits.
24:23The flocks of Passenger Pigeons were so large
24:26that they shaped the North American forests,
24:28both by aiding seed dispersal,
24:30and by their sheer numbers impacting the forest structure
24:33through their nesting and roosting habits.
24:35By the beginning of the 19th century, however,
24:37this all began to change with the advent of industrial-scale hunting.
24:41The birds were hunted for their meat,
24:43which was cheap and became a vital food source for the poor and for commercial sale.
24:47The introduction of the telegraph
24:49and the expansion of the railroad network in America
24:51made it possible to track and transport pigeons in massive numbers,
24:55and additionally, their nesting habits made them vulnerable
24:58when entire forests where they roosted were cut down,
25:01with the potential for millions of birds to be killed in a single nesting season.
25:05Conservation efforts were virtually non-existent
25:08during the peak of Passenger Pigeon hunting,
25:10and by the time the public and government realized the extent of the problem,
25:13it was far too late.
25:15The last known Passenger Pigeon, a female named Martha,
25:18died in captivity at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914,
25:21marking the extinction of the species.
25:241. The Barbary Lion
25:27Lions are another type of animal that we now normally think of
25:30as being native to just a few regions in Africa,
25:33but there was once a number of different lion species
25:36that lived across the entire continent and beyond.
25:39One of these was the Barbary Lion,
25:41which was also known as the Atlas Lion,
25:43and lived in the Atlas Mountains and surrounding areas of North Africa.
25:47It was one of the largest known lion subspecies,
25:49with males reportedly reaching lengths of up to 10 feet
25:52or 3 meters from head to tail,
25:54and weighing as much as 550 pounds or 250 kilos.
25:58It was best known for its incredible mane,
26:00which was darker and more extensive than those of its African relatives,
26:04and would often extend over the shoulder and under the belly.
26:07The Barbary Lion played a vital role in the ecosystem of North Africa,
26:10as they were the top predators wherever they roamed.
26:13Their natural habitats ranged from the Atlas Mountains
26:16to the Mediterranean coast, encompassing forested regions,
26:19mountainous areas, and grasslands.
26:21And throughout these regions, they would feed on a variety of prey,
26:24including deer, wild boar, smaller mammals,
26:26and virtually anything they encountered.
26:28Historically, the Barbary Lion held significant cultural import too.
26:32It was a symbol of royalty and strength,
26:35and it featured prominently in the royal coat of arms of the Kingdom of Morocco.
26:38However, it was this perceived strength and majesty
26:41that also led to its downfall,
26:43because they were hunted as trophies and for sport,
26:46and their habitat was increasingly altered
26:48by the development of human settlements.
26:50By the early 20th century,
26:52the Barbary Lion's population had fallen significantly because of these reasons,
26:56and the last recorded sighting of a wild lion was in Morocco in the 1950s.
27:00Later efforts to find any remaining individuals in the wild were unsuccessful,
27:04and this led to the acceptance that this once-proud subspecies
27:08had become extinct in the wild.
27:10In captivity, however, some lions in zoos
27:12are believed to be descendants of Barbary Lions,
27:15particularly a population that can be seen in the Rabat Zoo in Morocco.
27:19Conservation efforts have focused on preserving these genetic lines,
27:22with the hope of potentially reintroducing them into a protected area in North Africa,
27:27so it is possible that one day we may be able to see Barbary Lions roaming free once more.
27:34Thanks for watching, guys. I'll see you next time.
27:36Thank you to our channel members.