Extinct animals
Extinct species: why do they disappear?
The abusive and unsustainable use of natural resources not only harms the health of the planet, it also wipes out entire species so that they disappear for ever. The frenetic loss of biodiversity means that a million plants and animals are currently under threat. Others had even worse luck. Below we list some of the extinct species that we can only reminisce about today.
Thanks to biodiversity, we human beings can benefit from food security and access to clean water and raw materials. The biological balance also regulates the weather and slows down pollution. However, this balance is threatened, in large part by humanity's insatiable urge for more foodstuffs and more energy.
Biodiversity today
The extinction of species is not just anecdotal: the United Nations (UN) has warned that every day 150 species become extinct. According to a 2025 report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 48,000 species are currently threatened with extinction, posing a major risk to our ecosystems.
The frenetic loss of biodiversity makes it difficult for conservationists to assess the decline of species in real time, said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). To protect biodiversity it is necessary to make a commitment to environmental conservationism, with measures to protect the environment: Breed animals in captivity for subsequent release, create nature reserves, combat animal trafficking, etc.
What is an extinct species?
It is considered that a species is extinct when the last known specimen dies without leaving a genetic successor. The myth of the 50-year rule has lingered on (if a species has not been sighted during this time, it is considered extinct), but in reality there is no specific time frame. Deciding whether a species is completely extinct is complicated: sometimes, specimens of species thought to be extinct have been discovered, known as a Lazarus taxon. One example is the recent rediscovery of the long-footed pygmy possum, a small Australian marsupial once thought to be extinct.
To confirm the disappearance of a species it is vital to check the Red List
External link, opens in new window. put out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). For this list, which began over 50 years ago, information is gathered from expert biologists, conservationists and statisticians to record the conservation status of species.
Types of extinction
Today, we can distinguish between two types of extinction, depending on the way the species disappears:
- Phyletic extinction or pseudoextinction. One species disappears leaving behind another more evolved one. The original species (ancestor) is considered to be extinct but its lineage continues. There is no increase or decrease in diversity.
- Terminal extinction. A species becomes extinct without leaving descendants. Diversity therefore decreases. This type is in turn subdivided into two:
- Background (or normal) terminal extinction. Continuing, gradual disappearance over time.
- Mass terminal extinction. Worldwide with a common trigger event. It must be quick and affect a large number of unrelated organisms. Dinosaurs, for example.
Extinct species vs extinct in the wild vs threatened
According to the IUCN, species are classified into different categories:
- Threatened species are those that have lost up to 50% of their population.
- Extinct in the wild species survive only in captivity, with no known individuals remaining in nature.
- Extinct species are those for which there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.
Causes of animal extinction
More than 99% of the organisms that once lived on Earth no longer exist. Broadly speaking, species become extinct for the following reasons:
Demographic and genetic factors
Species with small populations face a greater risk of extinction. At the same time, natural selection plays its role by preserving beneficial genetic traits and eliminating weaker ones. Some animals have stronger genetic pools – more resilient and better able to adapt to unforeseen external circumstances – while others are more vulnerable.
Destruction of wild habitats
Human activity is a direct cause of species extinction: one million of the Earth’s eight million species are under threat due to the overexploitation of land and marine resources. In addition, one-fifth of the Earth’s land surface is degraded – forests are home to more than 80% of terrestrial species – while marine litter and ocean acidification are wreaking havoc in the seas.
Introduction of invasive species
The artificial, intentional or accidental introduction of invasive alien species into habitats where they do not naturally belong can disrupt ecosystem biodiversity. These new inhabitants displace native species, which in the worst cases die out. In Europe, according to the UN, one in three species is at risk of extinction for this reason.
Climate change
Rising global temperatures and sea level rise are having a negative impact on biodiversity. According to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), half of the plant and animal species in the world’s richest natural areas could suffer local extinction by the end of the century due to climate change. Even if the 2°C target set by the Paris Agreement is not exceeded, 25% of species could disappear.
Hunting and illegal trafficking
The black market threatens the survival of numerous species around the world. According to the 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report published by the UN, the animals most affected by these illegal practices are pangolins and rhinoceroses.
Environmental conservation as a tool against extinction
Environmental conservation is a social and political movement that promotes the protection of the environment and biodiversity against pollution, climate change, ecosystem destruction and human activity.
This approach promotes measures such as breeding endangered animals in protected areas to encourage reproduction and care before releasing them into the wild. It also supports the creation of nature reserves and protected areas for threatened species, efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and the reduction of carbon emissions, which accelerate climate change and contribute to habitat loss.
Actions to prevent animal extinction
What can we do to help combat the extinction of wild animals? There are many habits we can adopt to help protect biodiversity:
Reduce plastic consumption
Plastic is a harmful material that often ends up in the oceans, affecting turtles, whales and seabirds that mistake it for food.
Consume responsibly
Practise responsible consumption by buying properly certified products from local producers.
Do not buy wildlife souvenirs
Avoid products made from turtle shell, animal skins or ivory.
Choose ethical tourism
Avoid shows that exploit wild animals and visit parks or reserves that reinvest their income into conservation, such as Bioparc Fuengirola (Spain), Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia) or Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve (Costa Rica).
Control your pets
Always walk pets on a lead to protect local wildlife.
Top ten recently extinct animals worldwide
According to the IUCN Red List in 2025, the three most recently declared extinct animals are the slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris), a snail species native to Cape Verde called Conus lugubris, and the desert rat-kangaroo, native to Australia. Little-known animals that prove this phenomenon can affect any living being. Below are some of the most notable extinctions in recent decades:
Golden toad (Incilius periglenes)
- Habitat: Costa Rica
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2004.
- Cause: The drying up of forest pools caused by climate change led the toads to abandon their eggs, reducing their population and ultimately driving them to extinction.
Caribbean monk seal (Neomonachus tropicalis)
- Habitat: Caribbean Sea and Central American coast.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 1994.
- Cause: Hunting for its skin and blubber.
Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pyrenaica, considered a subspecies of the Spanish ibex)
- Habitat: Native to the Pyrenees.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2000.
- Cause: Overhunting and a lack of timely conservation measures
Kamao (Myadestes myadestinus)
- Habitat: Hawaii.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2004.
- Cause: Introduction of non-native birds, mosquito-borne diseases and habitat loss.
Slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris)
Pyrenean ibex (Capra pyrenaica pirenaica).
Western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes).
Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii).
Western black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis longipes, considered a subspecies of Diceros bicornis)
- Habitat: West Africa.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2011.
- Cause: Poaching driven by demand for its horns because of their supposed medicinal properties.
Pinta Island giant tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii)
- Habitat: Galápagos Islands.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2012.
- Cause: Human intrusion into its natural habitat.
Christmas Island pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi)
- Habitat: Christmas Island.
- Last confirmed sighting: Declared extinct in 2017.
- Cause: Habitat loss and degradation.
Iberdrola in respect for and preservation of biodiversity
At Iberdrola, we work to promote protection and action for nature and the planet's life forms. We have set ourselves the ambitious goal of having a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030. This commitment has been strengthened through our Biodiversity Plan 2030, which establishes the mechanisms to achieve this goal and drive the transformation towards an energy model in harmony with nature and human beings.
This roadmap addresses the impact on ecosystems and species of the Group's business throughout its life cycle, considering the supply chain and creating economic and social value through ecosystem services. The plan is based on applying the conservation hierarchy principle and implementing mechanisms to identify, quantify and monitor compliance.
The basis for this Plan was the approval in 2007 of our Biodiversity Policy, which is integrated into Iberdrola's Governance and Sustainability System. The Plan is based on years of work in integrating the consideration of biodiversity into strategic planning and corporate decision-making.
In addition, through a strong commitment to electrification based on clean energy, it is possible to meet growing energy demand while complying with greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, improving air quality and strengthening the protection of ecosystems.