The Western Black Rhinoceros
(Diceros bicornis longipes) or West African black rhinoceros was declared extinct in 2011. It was heavily hunted in the beginning of the 20th century, the population rose in the 1930s after preservation actions were taken, protection efforts declined over the years, poaching continued and by 2000 only an estimated 10 survived. In 2001 there were only five. Although It was believed that around thirty still existed in 2004, this was later found to be based upon falsified data.
The Guam Flying Fox
(Pteropus tokudae), also known as the little Marianas fruit bat. The last specimen was a female found roosting in 1967, but it escaped capture. When it was more plentiful it was hunted by humans for food, which may have contributed to its extinction. Another factor may have been the introduction into the island of the predatory Brown Tree Snake.
The Bubal Hartebeest
This antelope subspecies declined sharply during the course of the 19th century, when entire herds were massacred at once by the colonial military. The last known herd, numbering only 15 animals, was located in 1917; all but 3 of them were killed by the same hunter. The last animal in Morocco was shot in Missour in 1925. It probably disappeared around the same time in Algeria. One last specimen is mentioned as having been 'collected' in the 1920s.
Neanderthal
(Homo neanderthalensis or Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) are an extinct species of archaic humans who lived in Eurasia until about 40,000 years ago. They probably went extinct due to competition with or extermination by immigrating Eeuropean early modern humans or due to great climatic change, disease, or a combination of these factors.
The Dodo
(Raphus cucullatus) is an extinct flightless bird that was endemic to the island of Mauritius. The first recorded mention of the Dodo was in 1598. In the following years, the bird was hunted by sailors and invasive species, while its habitat was being destroyed. The last accepted sighting of a dodo was in 1662. The extinction of the dodo within less than a century of its discovery called attention to the previously unrecognised problem of human involvement in the disappearance of entire species.
The Titicaca Orestias
(Orestias cuvieri, native name amanto) A survey in 1962 failed to find any Titicaca orestias but in the hope that an undiscovered population remains, it is listed as “Data deficient” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The extinction is due to the water becoming contaminated by metals, such as zinc and copper, and also agricultural fertilizers and pesticides, alongside human consumption of the basins in the Altiplano depleting the Orestias' habitats.
The Cry Violet
(Viola cryana) grew on limestone outcrops in the region of Cry, southeast of Tonnerre in Yonne. It is thought to have been extinct in the wild by 1930 due to habitat destruction because of the limestone quarrying and also overexploitation by plant collectors. This plant might have survived in cultivation until 1950.
(Homo Sapiens) are a species of highly intelligent primates that have become the dominant species on earth. Part of the Great Ape family (along with chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans), this sub-species is characterised by its upright, bipedal locomotion, manual dexterity and heavy tool use, plus complex communication and its highly organised societies. Having diverged from other Homonid species around 300,000 years ago, it spread around the world in waves of migration. The spread of large and ever increasing populations of this species has profoundly affected the biosphere and the other species that inhabit it.
Scientists believe the current population of over seven billion to be unsustainable, with finite resources, climate warming and the species own poisoning of their habitat to be contributing factors.
The Great Extinction Exhibition
Beth Hart
Mixed media
Various dimensions (1:12 scale)
2020
To find out more about Beth and her work please visit
or visit her Instagram @suturedspecimens
Exhibits are being sold via Instagram auction.
Please visit @suturedspecimens to see current bids and to make your own via direct message.
All proceeds will be donated to Kent Refugee Action Network
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Exhibitions Coming Soon:
