Facts about Caribbean Monk Seal Extinction

1. 05

   Christopher Columbus's crew encountered and killed Caribbean monk seals during his 1494 voyage, representing one of the earliest recorded human interactions with the species.

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2. 04

   Caribbean monk seals belonged to the genus Neomonachus, and were most closely related to the Hawaiian and Mediterranean monk seals.

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3. 03

   Last confirmed sightings of Caribbean monk seals occurred near Serranilla Bank, between Jamaica and Honduras, in 1952.

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4. 02

   Overhunting by European sailors and fishermen for food, oil, and fur drove Caribbean monk seal populations to collapse over several centuries.

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5. 01

   The Caribbean monk seal was officially declared extinct in 2008, making it the only seal species to become extinct in modern times due to human activity.

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