The Moa. A gigantic flightless bird from New Zealand. These legends absolutely thrived for centuries but were killed off by over hunting about 600 years ago.
Passenger Pigeon. This humble fellow thrived in the billions. In the late 1800’s its meat was commercialised in the US (for the poor) and unsustainable hunting saw it completely extinct by 1914. They played an important role in indigenous culture.
Falkland Island Wolf. These little dudes had no natural predators and when people first visited the islands where they’d lived for centuries they were especially easy to capture. They were hunted out of extinction for their fur by 1880.
West African Black Rhino. Like all the African mega fauna, these guys thrived for a very long time until man started unsustainable hunting.
Thylacine. Had to mention this guy of course. Some believe they’re still out there but regardless of there being a few isolated families; here we have one of the most unique animals on the planet. It was clearly a carnivorous hunter, but also a marsupial which means it had a pouch. The government actually paid people to have this species exterminated in order to save live stock.
