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It is well-known that countless animal species have vanished throughout history due to human influence. When there’s only one remaining member of a species, it’s known as an endling. Once this last individual passes, the entire species is lost to time.
There’s something profoundly melancholic about gazing into the eyes of an endling. Sharing their stories ensures that they are not forgotten and acts as a stark reminder of the fragility of life itself.
10. The Last Quagga - Equus quagga quagga
The final quagga to roam the Earth passed away at the Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. If you picture the front half of a zebra and the back half of a donkey, you're quite close to visualizing a quagga. Thankfully, you don't need to imagine it because photographs of this zebra-like creature were captured in 1870. Once they freely roamed the lands of what is now South Africa, but overhunting for their meat, skins, and as sport led to their extinction.
In the 1980s, researchers managed to recover some mitochondrial DNA from this extraordinary animal. The DNA was extracted from dried muscle tissue, dating back 140 years from when the experiment took place. This tissue had been securely preserved in a museum during that time.
This mitochondrial DNA extraction was the first known proof that clonable DNA could be obtained from creatures that had been extinct for a long time, opening the door to thrilling new possibilities. It wasn’t quite like creating Jurassic Park, but it did offer the potential of 'building an accurate family tree of species across time.'
Nevertheless, this is still fascinating science. The analysis of the quagga's mitochondrial DNA showed it was closely related to the plains zebra—so much so that the quagga is now considered a subspecies of zebra.
Spurred by the DNA findings, a project began in 1987 to ‘breed back’ the quagga by selectively breeding plains zebras with fewer stripes. These newly created equines are known as Rau quaggas, named after the project's original researcher, Reinhold Rau. While they may not be entirely quagga genetically, their physical resemblance is undeniable.
9. Incas – The Carolina Parakeet - Conuropsis carolinensis
If you were told that a poisonous species of parrot once inhabited the Eastern United States, it might be hard to believe. But we can't prove it to you with a live example because the last one, named Incas, passed away at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1918. These stunning birds were predominantly green, but as they grew older, they developed brilliant yellow and red hues on their heads.
A 1891 journal article noted an unusual characteristic that contributed to the rapid decline of this species. Flocks of parakeets would often raid farmers’ crops, such as fruit orchards, either for food or simply for ‘mischief.’ As a result, farmers would shoot at them.
Instead of fleeing to safety, the parakeets would return to the same location where they had been targeted. This behavior allowed farmers to wipe out entire flocks of these daring and seemingly fearless birds.
The birds likely acquired their toxicity indirectly by consuming young cockleburs, a primary food source. These plants contain the deadly chemical carboxyatractyloside. The renowned ornithologist John James Audubon observed that cats that ate the birds seemed to die as a result.
This potentially places the Carolina parakeet on the very short list of poisonous bird species, which also includes the still-living hooded pitohui from New Guinea, the spur-winged goose of Benin, and a few others.
8. Celia – The Pyrenean Ibex - Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica
The Pyrenean ibex was a wild goat species that once roamed the regions of Spain, Andorra, and France. The last known individual was a female named Celia, who tragically passed away at the age of 13 in 2000 after being crushed by a fallen tree.
Celia was a well-known figure among researchers. She was captured in 1999, and cells were taken from her ear. Since it was understood that ibex don’t thrive in captivity, Celia was equipped with a tracking collar and released back into the wild, allowing researchers to monitor her location. This also made it possible for them to find her body after her death.
A few years later, the Pyrenean ibex became the first extinct species to be successfully cloned, thanks to the cells collected from Celia's ear before her passing. Out of over 50 attempts to artificially impregnate a different species of wild goat with a Pyrenean ibex embryo, only one animal managed to carry the pregnancy to full term.
The clone was delivered by cesarean section. Sadly, the newborn only survived for a few minutes due to a lung defect.
7. Turgi – The Snail - Partula turgida
In January 1996, a species of tree snail quietly went extinct when the last-known individual of the Polynesian species Partula turgida passed away at the London Zoo. For biologists, it was significant as this marked the first-known instance of a parasite causing the extinction of a species.
The population of this species dwindled slowly, as snails do, from 296 down to just one over a span of 21 months. That final snail, affectionately named Turgi by the zoo staff, was one of the individuals autopsied to understand why they all perished in captivity. The cause was determined to be a parasitic infection found in every examined snail, which appeared to be the direct cause of their deaths.
Turgi’s sorrowful story wasn’t the first instance of tree snail extinction, nor was it the last. In fact, out of the 61 species of tree snails originally found on the Society Islands, including Tahiti, most are now extinct. A few species of the genus Partula are still maintained in zoos worldwide, but the majority are gone from the wild.
The main cause of these extinctions was the introduction of a predatory snail species that hunted the native tree snails. It’s tragic that these creatures are now gone, as they were a prime example of how animals isolated on different islands can evolve into a remarkable variety of species.
This phenomenon is discussed in Henry Edward Crampton’s 1916 book, Studies on the Variation, Distribution, and Evolution of the Genus Partula. Today, for most species, only the vibrant shells remain on the islands that were once their homes.
6. Booming Ben – The Heath Hen - Tympanuchus cupido cupido
Closely related to the prairie chicken, the heath hen was a ground-dwelling bird native to the East Coast of North America. They were particularly abundant in colonial America, especially across the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions.
The early settlers of what would become the United States didn’t view the heath hen as anything special. In fact, many saw it as a humble food source due to the sheer number of these birds at the time. Some historians even propose that the birds served at the first Thanksgiving dinner may have been heath hens, not the turkeys we typically associate with the holiday.
Despite conservation efforts aimed at saving the species, a series of unfortunate events led to a sharp decline in the heath hen population. These included a devastating forest fire, increased natural predation, poultry diseases, and extremely harsh winters.
The final blow to these vibrant grouse came from the lack of genetic diversity among the remaining individuals. Tragically, all the females perished, leaving the males to perform their mating dances with no one to impress.
Ultimately, only one male remained, affectionately dubbed 'Booming Ben' for his distinctive call. A 1931 journal article described how he would roam Martha’s Vineyard, showcasing his 'strange courtship displays.' Sadly, he was last seen in 1932, and no further sightings of this once-abundant bird were recorded.
5. Toughie – The Rabbs’ Fringe-Limbed Treefrog - Ecnomiohyla rabborum
The most recent loss on this list is Toughie, the final known member of the rare Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog species. He passed away in 2016 after spending 11 years in captivity at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
The term 'fringe-limbed' refers to the extensive webbing on the frog's fingers and toes, which allowed them to glide from one tree to another. These frogs were relatively large for their kind, growing up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) at their maximum size. The tragedy of this extinction is even greater considering that the species was only discovered and named in 2008, meaning scientists had less than a decade to study them.
Many amphibian species in Panama, including these frogs, fell victim to a deadly fungus that attacked them. This fungus, known as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, began its spread across the country in the 1980s.
By the 2000s, scientists predicted that the disease could wipe out up to 50 percent of the amphibians in the region. Although conservationists made efforts to save these species before they were all gone, the fungus continued to ravage the population despite their best attempts.
4. Benjamin – The Tasmanian Tiger - Thylacinus cynocephalus
The thylacine, often referred to as the Tasmanian tiger, was a distinctive marsupial roughly the size of a dog. It had a pouch on its abdomen and striking tiger-like stripes along its back and hindquarters. Though it has been extinct for over 80 years, it remains an iconic figure, particularly in Oceania.
Much has been written about humanity's sorrow over the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger, but less has been said about Benjamin, the last known individual of the species. His name, Benjamin, was likely assigned posthumously, once it became clear that he was the final member of his kind. The zoo, however, did not realize during his lifetime that he was the endling.
For years, there was debate over whether the last Tasmanian tiger was male or female. This uncertainty was resolved in 2011, when a still frame from a 1933 video showing the animal in motion was analyzed, confirming that this thylacine was male.
Benjamin's death in 1936 might have been avoided had his caretakers noticed he had been locked out of his shelter during harsh weather in the early days of September.
Sadly, without proper shelter, he succumbed to neglect. No other confirmed sightings of Tasmanian tigers have been reported, but rumors continue to circulate, suggesting these creatures may still be lurking in the remote regions of Australia, New Guinea, or Tasmania.
3. Lonesome George, the Pinta Island Tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii)
No list of the last of a species would be complete without mentioning Lonesome George, undoubtedly the most famous case of an endling. George was found all alone in 1972 on Pinta Island, one of the Galapagos Islands.
After extensive searches yielded no further members of his species, George was officially declared the last surviving Pinta Island tortoise. The island's plant life had been devastated by invasive feral goats and pigs left by humans, making it impossible for the slow-moving tortoises to find food. Consequently, the rest of his kind perished, leaving only George.
Lonesome George was relocated to an enclosure at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. But he wouldn't remain solitary forever. Female tortoises from a closely related species were brought in to keep him company. Despite numerous attempts to create a hybrid heir to carry on George’s legacy, all the eggs laid by the females proved to be infertile.
George passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on June 24, 2012. He was still relatively young for a tortoise, thought to be around 100 years old. Galapagos tortoises can live up to their 150s. The announcement of his death left visitors and staff deeply saddened, many moved to tears.
While the last known purebred Pinta Island tortoise has passed, hope remains for future hybrid offspring. Seventeen Pinta hybrids were found on another island after George’s death. Experts are now proposing breeding programs aimed at preserving as many original Pinta characteristics as possible, with the intention of reintroducing these creatures to Pinta Island to restore balance to the local ecosystem.
This opens up the possibility that a de-extinction effort could eventually be feasible.
2. Martha, The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
The passenger pigeon got its name due to its massive migrations, with flocks containing billions of birds. Yes, billions with a 'b.' At their peak, passenger pigeons were considered the most abundant bird in the United States, comprising 25-40 percent of the country's total bird population. Sadly, between 1860 and 1914, hunting and habitat destruction led to the dramatic decline of this once enormous flock, ultimately leaving just one bird behind.
The early accounts of passenger pigeon migrations are legendary, with none more remarkable than the story of a 1813 flock in Kentucky, as recounted by John James Audubon. This flock blotted out the sky for three entire days, flying non-stop through day and night over the Ohio River, covering the air in a spectacular display.
Audubon likened the pigeons' droppings to falling snow. The local hunters could shoot into the sky without aiming, easily bringing home enough birds to feed their families.
However, this abundance, coupled with the birds’ tendency to feast on crops, soon made them a pest. Before long, efforts to eradicate the passenger pigeon began, and it was treated as a nuisance species.
By 1900, the passenger pigeon had vanished from the wild, and the last few remaining birds in captivity were on the brink of extinction. The final pigeon, named Martha, passed away in 1914, marking the extinction of a species once thought to be invincible.
1. The Last Kauai O’o, Moho braccatus
The Kauai o’o was one of four extinct species within the Moho genus (pronounced 'oh-oh'). This bird’s extinction tale is among the most heartbreaking of any species. Once abundant in Hawaii, their striking black feathers were used in traditional headwear by the islanders, adding a glossy finish to ceremonial adornments.
The bird's decline is largely blamed on mosquito-borne diseases, particularly avian malaria, alongside the arrival of invasive predators such as rats and cats on the islands.
It was believed that the last known pair of these birds lived in the Alakai Swamp on the island of Kauai until Hurricane Iwa tragically claimed the life of the female in 1982. The male, the final member of the species, lingered for a few more years in isolation before he too disappeared.
The last sighting of him occurred in 1985, and his final birdsong—one that would never receive a response from a female—was recorded in 1987. A portion of his song from 1975 can be found online, preserved in a birdsong archive. The melancholic tune of a species lost forever is both hauntingly beautiful and profoundly sorrowful to hear.
