Facts about Dodo Extinction Causes
- 05
Sailors visiting Mauritius described dodos as so unafraid of humans that the birds could be herded and caught by hand, requiring no hunting skill.
- 04
Habitat destruction through land clearing for agriculture in Mauritius removed the forest environment dodos depended on for food and shelter.
- 03
Dutch settlers arrived in Mauritius in 1638, and within roughly 80 years the dodo was completely extinct, illustrating how rapidly human colonization can devastate isolated species.
- 02
The dodo, native exclusively to Mauritius, had evolved without natural predators and showed no fear of humans, making it easy prey for sailors who hunted it for food.
- 01
Invasive species introduced by Dutch settlers, including rats, pigs, and monkeys, destroyed dodo nests and eggs, accelerating the bird's extinction alongside direct hunting.