The Dodo was a large, flightless pigeon who once roamed the forests of
Mauritius. His fate was sealed, alas, when sailors landed on the island
in the 16th century, bringing with them rats, cats, dogs, pigs - and
guns. With no natural predators, the Dodo was a fearless and curious
bird, eager to investigate these new arrivals. The sailors killed the
Dodo not only for their meat, but for sport. This, combined with the
impact the introduced animals had on their habitat, lead to the Dodo’s
demise in 1662. Its extinction was not immediately noted - indeed the
bird itself was considered a hoax - but he has now become the icon of
extinction and the phrase “dead as a dodo” has become cliche.
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