The Great Auk, otherwise known as the Northern Penguin, was once plentiful in the Northern Atlantic. They were very much like penguins. These birds could not fly but there were millions of them, flapping their wings in the water. Unforunately for the future generation, this species has died, along with a few others that went extinct in human-dominated earth. They disappeared in 1844, and it seems, we, humans are their killers.
Animals have provided food and resources to people, but one characteristic of humanity is not knowing when to stop. As long as the resource is there, man will utilize it and not care about the consequences on the environment. Killing off more than a dozen species and driving many into extinction in the last century. Mankind has shown a spectacular flair for uncaring and even the Great Auk which could have benefited as a continual food source, just died out because of man.
It is rather depressing that the flightless bird was sustenance for people, as extra resources to augment food sources. When human hunting from 1500, and for another 300 years to cause the animal to die out. Apparently, the reasons for hunting was only for extra nutrition in the beginning. When bountiful fishing is a source of economic and more food for those living there, fishing then became a priority. But, count millions of the Great Auks living nearby, that will mean more fish are eaten not to be used for profit and gain. Naturally, humans did what they do best, killing other species that have been the dominant presence.
Problems of industrialization and expansion of the human territory is that it encroaches on local species, in the case of the Great Auk. They became a resource and competition for the fishing stocks in Newfoundland. When people enter an area, they have an immediate impact, because they are the only species that can kill off others or cause problems for the environment.
Here are more interesting arguments that will spice up how the Great Auk died, and why People are the main engine for mass extinction. Compared to nature, people have a knack to be one of the most self-indulgent species dedicated to no other. These ideas will show why and ram the message home, that more species are dying out.
DNA of the Great Auk was found to be hardy and survived as a species that was not genetically vulnerable. Before they were even used as meats sources, other animals prey on them. Yet, they survived to be millions strong that locks out this argument.
These flightless birds never had a decline in environment and numbers because there was an abundance of food. Another thing is they were not badgered to extinction until 1844. One people start moving everywhere and doing what they did best. Only then did the knockout come to the Great Auk as people did their thing. So, humans are guilty and much more for all the predations, they have heaped on other species.
Related Article: DNA points to humans as killers of the northern version of the penguin
