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14 animals declared extinct in the 21st century

In spite of US and international legislation, humans continues to cause extinctions of species worldwide.

8. Alaotra Grebe, Tachybaptus rufolavatus, 2012

Birdlife International/AP/File
Birdlife International provided this undated photo of the Alaotra grebe. Alien fish species contributed to the extinction of a water bird in Madagascar, the conservation group said.

In 2010 the Alaotra Grebe was re-listed from critically endangered to extinct.

The bird was named for its home: Lake Alaotra, a shallow, brackish lake in Madagascar. Only 12 individuals were recorded at the lake in 1982, and by 1985 the population had dropped to two.

Rumors of sightings continued until the end of the 20th century, but when scientists surveyed the area in 2000, no individuals were found on Lake Alaotra or surrounding lakes.

Nearby regions were only briefly explored as the small-winged species was probably incapable of prolonged flight.

The grebes' survival faced several threats, including habitat loss to rice farms, water pollution from nearby agriculture, and the introduction of carnivorous fish that depleted the population of endemic fish the grebes depended on.

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Mark Sappenfield
Editor

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