Scientists have exhausted efforts to find these 23 species of birds and fish. The following 23 species have been confirmed to be extinct:
- Flat bigtoe
- Ivory-billed wood pecker
- Fresh water mussel
Wednesday’s announcement kicks off a three-month comment period before the species status changes become final.
The extinction is caused by water pollution, birds killed for feathers, logging, competition from invasive species or animals captured by private collectors. Humans are behind the extinction of most animals.
Worldwide, it is estimated that 902 species have been reported as extinct. The actual number is thought to be much higher because some are never formally identified, and many scientists warn that species are now disappearing at 1,000 times the historical rate.
A bird known as honey creeper was discovered in 1973 and by 1990s there were only 3 remaining – a male and two females. The male was captured for possible breeding but died in 2004 and the two females disappeared never to be found again.
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