The dodo was a flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Sadly, the dodo was hunted to extinction less than 100 years after its discovery in 1598. But why was this hapless bird driven to extinction so quickly? In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the dodo’s rapid demise.
Where did dodos live?
Dodoes were only found on the island of Mauritius, located about 600 miles east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Mauritius was uninhabited before being discovered by Portuguese explorers in 1505. With no natural predators, the dodo lost the ability to fly over generations of evolution on the remote island. When humans first arrived on Mauritius, the dodo population was estimated to number in the thousands or perhaps tens of thousands.
When were dodos discovered?
Dodoes were first encountered by Portuguese sailors visiting Mauritius in 1505. Early accounts described them as large, flightless birds that were not afraid of humans. However, the dodo did not gain widespread recognition until 1598, when Dutch sailors killed and preserved the first complete dodo specimens. These were sent to Europe, where the strange and exotic dodo captivated the public.
Why were dodos hunted?
There were a few key reasons why dodoes were heavily hunted by both sailors and colonists on Mauritius:
- Their meat was tasty – Dodos did not have much predator avoidance instinct, making them easy to catch. Their meat was described as thick, soft and tasty, akin to mutton. Dodos provided an abundant and readily available source of fresh meat for ships stopping at Mauritius to restock supplies.
- They were easy to catch – Due to having no natural predators, dodos did not fear humans. Sailors could simply walk up and kill dodos with sticks and clubs. Even as they began to be hunted, dodos did not develop a fear of humans.
- Their habitat was destroyed – As more colonists arrived at Mauritius, they cut down forests to make room for plantations. This destroyed the dodo’s nesting areas and food sources, contributing to their demise.
- Rats, pigs and monkeys – Humans introduced various animals to Mauritius that ate dodo eggs and disrupted the ecosystem. With these predators about, dodo numbers dwindled rapidly.
- Curiosity and exhibition – Dodos were shipped to Europe to be exhibited as curiosities in royal menageries and museums. Limited numbers were allowed to die out without reproducing.
When did dodos go extinct?
The last confirmed dodo sighting was in 1662. Just over 60 years after their discovery, the dodo was extinct by 1681. A combination of extensive hunting, habitat loss, invasive species and being captured for exhibition quickly devastated the species. Within a century of humans arriving, the dodo was gone forever.
Could the dodo extinction have been prevented?
In hindsight, there were a few actions that could have prevented the rapid extinction of the dodo:
- Controlled hunting – If early sailors and colonists had limited dodo hunting to sustainable levels, their numbers may have rebounded.
- Habitat protection – The dodo’s nesting grounds and food sources could have been protected from destruction.
- Invasive species control – Preventing or limiting the spread of pigs, rats and monkeys would have reduced egg predation.
- Captive breeding program – If some dodos had been kept alive in captivity and allowed to breed, they may have been reintroduced to Mauritius later.
However, without full knowledge of the long-term impact, early sailors and colonists acted in self interest and exploited the dodo to the point of no return. The dodo’s extinction was likely inevitable after humans arrived, but it could have been delayed if actions had been taken to protect the species.
What led to the dodo being discovered?
There are a few reasons why the dodo remained unknown until being discovered in 1598:
- Isolation of Mauritius – Mauritius is a remote island that lay well outside of major trade routes. It was uninhabited and unvisited by humans until 1505.
- The dodo could not fly – With no predators, the dodo lost its ability to fly over generations. It could not reach other lands where it may have been discovered sooner.
- Myths and legends – Some researchers believe ancient Arab and Malay sailors knew of the dodo, but their stories were dismissed as myths by Europeans.
- Natural history not studied – It was not until the Age of Discovery that Europeans began cataloging nature and new species in a systematic way.
In summary, the dodo was able to remain undiscovered until the 16th century because it was located on a remote island, could not fly to other places, and no humans had reason to visit Mauritius prior to Portuguese exploration of the Indian Ocean.
What did dodos look like?
Based on sketches, accounts, bones and several complete stuffed dodos shipped overseas, we have a good idea of their appearance. Dodos had distinctive features including:
- Large body – Dodos could grow over 3 feet tall and weigh more than 20 kg. Accounts described them as being obese or “fat as a pig.”
- Curved beak – They had a long, stout, downward curved beak ideal for cracking seeds and nuts.
- Plumage – Their feathers were described as gray, yellowish and somewhat sparse, especially on the head and body.
- Wings – Their wings were tiny and unfit for flight.
- Tail – They had curly tail feathers.
- Eyes – Some illustrations show blue eyes.
- Legs – Dodos had stout yellowish legs and black claws.
The dodo was stout, pigeon-like in posture, and flamboyantly adorned with curly tail feathers. It likely looked ungainly when walking on land. The dodo’slarge size and inability to fly made it easy prey for humans.
Why did the dodo go extinct so quickly?
There are several key reasons why this species was wiped out so rapidly after humans arrived at Mauritius:
- No fear of humans – Having evolved with no predators, dodos had no instinctive fear of humans and could be easily killed.
- Sailors hunted them – With no fear, tasty meat and inability to fly away, dodos were an ideal food source for ships.
- Loss of habitat – Forests were cleared for agriculture, destroying dodos’ nesting areas.
- Invasive species – Rats, pigs and monkeys introduced by humans ate dodo eggs and young.
- No conservation efforts – There was no concept of species extinction or efforts made to actively protect dodos.
In just over 100 years, a combination of overhunting by sailors, loss of habitat, predation by invasive species, and collection for curiosity with no conservation wiped dodos off the planet.
Could the dodo be brought back from extinction?
There have been discussions around whether the dodo could be ‘de-extincted’ in the future using techniques like genetic engineering. However, there are significant challenges:
- Lack of intact DNA – Only tiny fragments of damaged dodo DNA persist, making cloning difficult.
- Unknown habitat needs – The original Mauritian habitat no longer exists, and what the dodos needed to thrive and mate is unclear.
- No mating partners – Only one living dodo could be created, with no mates to reproduce with.
- Cost prohibitive – The expense of trying to overcome these challenges is considered too high for a single extinct species.
For these reasons, while de-extinction may be conceivable for very recently extinct animals with good DNA sources, most scientists believe recreating dodos is sadly infeasible. However, new genetic technology and research on related extinct pigeons like the Rodrigues solitaire may provide additional insights into the lost genetic heritage of dodos in the future.
What can we learn from the dodo’s extinction?
The dodo’s rapid demise after humans discovered it serves as a cautionary tale and stark lesson for conservation even today. Key lessons include:
- Human carelessness can wipe out species.
- Introducing invasive species can be disastrous.
- Losing habitat drives extinction.
- Hunting without restraint has consequences.
- Extinction is forever.
The dodo is often cited as an icon of human-driven extinction and used to promote environmental awareness. Its tragic fate reminds us that our actions can have permanent impacts on biodiversity, and that we should strive to conserve species before it is too late.
Conclusion
In just a century after its discovery in 1598, the dodo went from a thriving species on Mauritius to complete extinction by 1681. This was due to being excessively hunted for food, having its forest habitat cleared, and the introduction of invasive species that ate its eggs. With no conservation efforts or understanding of extinction, the dodo was sadly hunted to oblivion. The dodo’s story serves as a stark reminder that human actions can have severe and irreversible impacts on biodiversity. Hopefully we can learn from the dodo moving forward when making decisions that affect other species and the natural world.