Another 21 American Animals Just Went Extinct. It Should Be a ‘Wake-Up Call,’ Wildlife Agency Says

The battle to save nearly two dozen creatures on the endangered species list has been lost, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service revealed. All 21 critters are now extinct, leading officials to remove them from endangered species list. 

The last members of these 21 species likely met their demise years ago — most were listed under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s and 1980s. Confirming actual extinction takes time, and the delisting comes after rigorous reviews of the latest research on each species.

“Federal protection came too late to reverse these species’ decline, and it’s a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it’s too late,” said Service Director Martha Williams in a press release.

Many of the extinct creatures lived on islands. The Little Mariana fruit bat, native to Guam, for example, and several birds native to Hawaii, including the po`ouli, the Molokai creeper and the Kauai nukupuu. Eight other birds are also now considered extinct, along with 2 species of fish and 8 species mussels.

One notable species was absent from the list: the ivory-billed woodpecker. The last official sighting of this large, red-headed bird was in 1944, though scientists and birdwatchers have reported several disputed sightings over recent decades. Fish and Wildlife Service officials had planned to delist the bird, but delayed the decision based on public comment.