There used to be millions of these birds in Canada, in France, and even in Florida. But that was before humans got involved...
Category
🐳
AnimalsTranscript
01:00So prior to this, they had only been killed by local people throughout their distribution
01:12for sustenance.
01:13But at this time, the hunting really intensified and sailors were killing them as a food source
01:19to feed themselves after travelling across these long distances without fresh meat for
01:24months.
01:25In the 1700s, then, a feather trade also developed for them.
01:29And so the birds were being killed for their feathers to be used in mattresses and pillows.
01:36And also towards the end of their existence, when they became rare, they were also killed
01:41to be put in museum collections around the world.
01:55They were very clumsy on land.
02:04They were more adapted to life in the sea.
02:07So when they were in the sea, they were very agile and could move very well.
02:12But when they were on shore, they were very clumsy.
02:15And so they couldn't really escape.