4 animal species that went extinct in 2019

In December, Lifehacker traditionally sums up the results, talking about key events in various areas, including cinema and technologies. But not all results of the year are positive: in 2019, the planet lost at least four animal species.

1. Reef mosaic-tailed rat

Rodents that lived on the small island of Bramble Cay in Australia are officially recognized extinct in February 2019. This is the first case of a mammalian extinction caused by anthropogenic climate change.

2. Sumatran Rhinoceros (regional extinction)

In November, Iman, a 25-year-old female Sumatran rhinoceros, the last of its species in Malaysia, died of cancer in the Borneo reserve. Officially, this species is considered extinct since May this year, when the last male of this breed, living in captivity, died. According to scientists, 30-80 individuals of this species can still live in the wild nature of Indonesia.

3. Hawaiian snail Achatinella apexfulva

The last snail of this species discovered by scientists, named George died in the New Year 2019. For the past 20 years, people have been looking for other such snails, but they have not been able to find any. The cause of the extinction was an initiative by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture, which brought predatory snails, Euglandina rosea, to pest control. They coped with their task, but at the same time they exterminated almost all Achatinella apexfulva.

4. Bahamian nuthatch (potentially extinct)

In September, the tropical hurricane Dorian passed in the Bahamas, destroying the habitat of these birds. Previously, scientists managed to find two individuals of this species, but after the hurricane they could not find them - after which they were recognized as potentially extinct.