![Going, Going...Gone? graphic title](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/going-going-gone_title/2720498-2-eng-US/going-going-gone_title_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/going-going-gone_title/2720498-2-eng-US/going-going-gone_title_full_990.png 990w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/going-going-gone_title/2720498-2-eng-US/going-going-gone_title_full_1468.png 1468w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/going-going-gone_title/2720498-2-eng-US/going-going-gone_title_full_1980.png 1920w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/going-going-gone_title/2720498-2-eng-US/going-going-gone_title_full_2475.png 1920w)
![Going, Going... Gone? graphic title](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/goign-going-gone_title_mobile/2720582-1-eng-US/goign-going-gone_title_mobile_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/goign-going-gone_title_mobile/2720582-1-eng-US/goign-going-gone_title_mobile_full_990.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/goign-going-gone_title_mobile/2720582-1-eng-US/goign-going-gone_title_mobile_full_1468.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/goign-going-gone_title_mobile/2720582-1-eng-US/goign-going-gone_title_mobile_full_1980.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/goign-going-gone_title_mobile/2720582-1-eng-US/goign-going-gone_title_mobile_full_2475.png 960w)
You will never see the great auk, the laughing owl, or the O’ahu ‘O’o at the zoo or even in the wild because these species are gone forever. That's extinction—when all the members of a species have died. Once a species becomes extinct, our planet changes forever.
Extinction
is a natural part of our Earth’s history, but today species are becoming extinct faster than ever. Every year, new species are becoming threatened with extinction.
![Illustration of California Condor soaring above a canyon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-condor/2720639-1-eng-US/endangered-condor_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-condor/2720639-1-eng-US/endangered-condor_full_990.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-condor/2720639-1-eng-US/endangered-condor_full_1468.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-condor/2720639-1-eng-US/endangered-condor_full_1980.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-condor/2720639-1-eng-US/endangered-condor_full_2475.png 960w)
California Condor
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
![Illustration of three whooping cranes at the water's edge](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-whooping_crane/2720735-1-eng-US/endangered-whooping_crane_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-whooping_crane/2720735-1-eng-US/endangered-whooping_crane_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-whooping_crane/2720735-1-eng-US/endangered-whooping_crane_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-whooping_crane/2720735-1-eng-US/endangered-whooping_crane_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-whooping_crane/2720735-1-eng-US/endangered-whooping_crane_full_2475.png 480w)
Whooping Crane
ENDANGERED
![Illustration of Bengal tiger near the water's edge](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-tiger/2720723-1-eng-US/endangered-tiger_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-tiger/2720723-1-eng-US/endangered-tiger_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-tiger/2720723-1-eng-US/endangered-tiger_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-tiger/2720723-1-eng-US/endangered-tiger_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-tiger/2720723-1-eng-US/endangered-tiger_full_2475.png 480w)
Bengal Tiger
ENDANGERED
![Illustration of leatherback sea turtle](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-leatherback/2720687-1-eng-US/endangered-leatherback_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-leatherback/2720687-1-eng-US/endangered-leatherback_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-leatherback/2720687-1-eng-US/endangered-leatherback_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-leatherback/2720687-1-eng-US/endangered-leatherback_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-leatherback/2720687-1-eng-US/endangered-leatherback_full_2475.png 480w)
Leatherback Sea Turtle
THREATENED
![illustration of an owl soaring between trees](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-owl/2720747-1-eng-US/endangered-owl_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-owl/2720747-1-eng-US/endangered-owl_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-owl/2720747-1-eng-US/endangered-owl_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-owl/2720747-1-eng-US/endangered-owl_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-owl/2720747-1-eng-US/endangered-owl_full_2475.png 480w)
Northen Spotted Owl
VULNERABLE
![Key: black=Extinct, red=Critically Endangered, orange=Endangered, mustard=Vulnerable, yellow=Threatened](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/key/2721608-1-eng-US/key_full_495.png 308w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/key/2721608-1-eng-US/key_full_990.png 308w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/key/2721608-1-eng-US/key_full_1468.png 308w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/key/2721608-1-eng-US/key_full_1980.png 308w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/key/2721608-1-eng-US/key_full_2475.png 308w)
![Illustration of the black and white Great Auk](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-greatauk/2720651-1-eng-US/endangered-greatauk_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-greatauk/2720651-1-eng-US/endangered-greatauk_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-greatauk/2720651-1-eng-US/endangered-greatauk_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-greatauk/2720651-1-eng-US/endangered-greatauk_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-greatauk/2720651-1-eng-US/endangered-greatauk_full_2475.png 480w)
Great Auk
EXTINCT
![Illustration of brown laughing owls](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-laughingowl/2720711-1-eng-US/endangered-laughingowl_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-laughingowl/2720711-1-eng-US/endangered-laughingowl_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-laughingowl/2720711-1-eng-US/endangered-laughingowl_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-laughingowl/2720711-1-eng-US/endangered-laughingowl_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-laughingowl/2720711-1-eng-US/endangered-laughingowl_full_2475.png 480w)
Laughing Owl
EXTINCT
![Illustration of black and yellow O'ahu 'O'o birds](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-oahuoo/2720699-1-eng-US/endangered-oahuoo_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-oahuoo/2720699-1-eng-US/endangered-oahuoo_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-oahuoo/2720699-1-eng-US/endangered-oahuoo_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-oahuoo/2720699-1-eng-US/endangered-oahuoo_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-oahuoo/2720699-1-eng-US/endangered-oahuoo_full_2475.png 480w)
O'ahu 'O'o
EXTINCT
![illustration of a Goliath Frog with tongue sticking out](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-goliath_frog/2720627-1-eng-US/endangered-goliath_frog_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-goliath_frog/2720627-1-eng-US/endangered-goliath_frog_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-goliath_frog/2720627-1-eng-US/endangered-goliath_frog_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-goliath_frog/2720627-1-eng-US/endangered-goliath_frog_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-goliath_frog/2720627-1-eng-US/endangered-goliath_frog_full_2475.png 480w)
Goliath Frog
ENDANGERED
![Illustration of a gray Kagu](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-kagu/2720675-1-eng-US/endangered-kagu_full_495.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-kagu/2720675-1-eng-US/endangered-kagu_full_990.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-kagu/2720675-1-eng-US/endangered-kagu_full_1468.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-kagu/2720675-1-eng-US/endangered-kagu_full_1980.png 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-kagu/2720675-1-eng-US/endangered-kagu_full_2475.png 480w)
Kagu
ENDANGERED
![Illustration of a mountain gorilla in the forests of central Africa](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_990.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_1468.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_1980.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_2475.png 960w)
Mountain Gorilla
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
![Illustration of a mountain gorilla in the forests of central Africa](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_495.png 495w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_990.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_1468.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_1980.png 960w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/endangered-gorilla/2720663-1-eng-US/endangered-gorilla_full_2475.png 960w)
Mountain Gorilla
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
What causes extinction?
![tree stump icon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-stump/2720570-1-eng-US/icon-stump_full_495.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-stump/2720570-1-eng-US/icon-stump_full_990.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-stump/2720570-1-eng-US/icon-stump_full_1468.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-stump/2720570-1-eng-US/icon-stump_full_1980.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-stump/2720570-1-eng-US/icon-stump_full_2475.png 180w)
Habitat Loss
![pollution cloud icon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-pollution_cloud/2720534-1-eng-US/icon-pollution_cloud_full_495.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-pollution_cloud/2720534-1-eng-US/icon-pollution_cloud_full_990.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-pollution_cloud/2720534-1-eng-US/icon-pollution_cloud_full_1468.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-pollution_cloud/2720534-1-eng-US/icon-pollution_cloud_full_1980.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-pollution_cloud/2720534-1-eng-US/icon-pollution_cloud_full_2475.png 180w)
Pollution
![Sun icon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-sun/2720558-1-eng-US/icon-sun_full_495.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-sun/2720558-1-eng-US/icon-sun_full_990.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-sun/2720558-1-eng-US/icon-sun_full_1468.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-sun/2720558-1-eng-US/icon-sun_full_1980.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-sun/2720558-1-eng-US/icon-sun_full_2475.png 180w)
Global Climate Change
![fish icon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-fish/2720522-1-eng-US/icon-fish_full_495.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-fish/2720522-1-eng-US/icon-fish_full_990.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-fish/2720522-1-eng-US/icon-fish_full_1468.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-fish/2720522-1-eng-US/icon-fish_full_1980.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-fish/2720522-1-eng-US/icon-fish_full_2475.png 180w)
Overharvesting
![green snake icon](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-snake/2720546-1-eng-US/icon-snake_full_495.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-snake/2720546-1-eng-US/icon-snake_full_990.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-snake/2720546-1-eng-US/icon-snake_full_1468.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-snake/2720546-1-eng-US/icon-snake_full_1980.png 180w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/icon-snake/2720546-1-eng-US/icon-snake_full_2475.png 180w)
Invasive Species
How are scientists protecting species?
When a species is endangered , scientists monitor it closely year after year. Accurate information about population size and distribution helps scientists plan conservation efforts and identify areas where the species is in most danger. Then they can take action before it’s too late.
![sea horse](/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/sea-horse/2721896-1-eng-US/sea-horse_full_495.jpg 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/sea-horse/2721896-1-eng-US/sea-horse_full_990.jpg 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/sea-horse/2721896-1-eng-US/sea-horse_full_1468.jpg 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/sea-horse/2721896-1-eng-US/sea-horse_full_1980.jpg 480w,/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/media/amnh/images/explore/ology-images/biodiversity/going-going-gone/sea-horse/2721896-1-eng-US/sea-horse_full_2475.jpg 480w)
The Pipefish and the Seahorse
In 1994, a South African river pipefish was listed as extinct. But one year later, a healthy new population was discovered. This second chance to save the pipefish might have been lost if scientists hadn’t monitored local species.
Some species of seahorse, close relatives of the pipefish, are also under threat. Large numbers are taken from the wild and sold for home aquariums. Seahorses also live in threatened marine habitats , like coral reefs . By tracking seahorse populations, scientists can trace these problems and find solutions. Now they’re working with fishermen to set up seahorse sanctuaries.
Image Credits:
Photos: How do you know when a species has become extinct?: Pacific seahorse: courtesy of Gerald and Buff Corsi, California Academy of Sciences; Illustrations: Introductory page: letters and their animations: Eric Hamilton; great auk: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services, #6266, extinct 1844. By Charles Hamilton Smith, from Charles Hamilton Smith, Original Drawings, 1795-1859. 23 vols; laughing owl: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services, #6253, extinct New Zealand, c. 1914. By John G. Keulemans, from G. D. Rowley, Ornithological miscellany, vol. 1. London: 1875.; O'ahu 'O'o: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services, #6286, By John G. Keulemans, from Lionel Walter Rothschild, The avifauna of Laysan and the neighbouring islands, London, 1893-1900; endangered ticker animals: Patricia J. Wynne