10 Animals That Came Back From Extinction

TL;DR

Ten animals that were thought to be extinct were rediscovered, including flightless birds, frogs, snakes, primates, geckos, peccaries, potoroos, sabretooth cats, giant lizards, and the coelacanth fish.

Transcript

like and subscribe and you'll have amazing luck for the rest of the week in today's video we will look at 10 animals that came back from extinction against all odds number 10 the south island takahi the south island takahi is a large and beautiful species of flightless bird once found in new zealand around 1841 it was the largest living member of t... Read More

Key Insights

• 🎯 Extinct animals can sometimes be rediscovered through chance encounters or targeted expeditions.
• 🙃 De-extinction efforts, such as somatic cell nuclear transplantation, have successfully brought species back to life.
• 🏆 Simulating specific conditions and conducting DNA tests can help confirm the rediscovery of elusive species.
• ◾ Lack of sightings does not necessarily mean extinction, as small populations or remote habitats can make animals difficult to detect.
• 💱 Conservation efforts are crucial in protecting rediscovered species from further decline due to hunting, habitat destruction, and climate change.
• 🦎 The rarity of certain species, such as the Gilbert's potoroo and La Gomera giant lizard, highlights their conservation significance.
• 🐟 The coelacanth fish, rediscovered in 1938, is a prime example of an ancient species that has survived for millions of years.

Questions & Answers

Q: How were the South Island takahis rediscovered after being considered extinct?

A small group of takahis were miraculously found near Lake Tianao 50 years after being declared extinct. Researchers discovered them clinging desperately to life.

Q: How were the platypus frogs brought back to life in 2013?

Through de-extinction efforts, scientists used a process called somatic cell nuclear transplantation to reintroduce the platypus frogs.

Q: How did experts confirm the rediscovery of the Clarion night snake?

A team of experts simulated the exact conditions of the earlier successful find and identified 11 snakes that resembled the Clarion night snake. DNA tests confirmed their suspicions.

Q: What led to the rediscovery of the pygmy tarsier in 2008?

Grisky Doyen, a researcher, became the first person in almost 80 years to sight a pygmy tarsier alive, confirming that they were not extinct.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The South Island takahi, a large flightless bird from New Zealand, was believed to be extinct after the last encounter in 1898. However, a small group was rediscovered near Lake Tianao 50 years later.

• The platypus frog, known for its unique reproductive method, was presumed extinct until it was brought back to life through de-extinction efforts in 2013.

• The Clarion night snake, a beautiful but elusive species, was only known through a preserved specimen from 1936. A team of experts rediscovered the snake in 2018 through a simulation of the earlier successful find.

• The pygmy tarsier, the world's smallest primate, was thought to be extinct until a researcher rediscovered them in Indonesia in 2008.