5 Animals That Went Extinct in 2025

Every year, our planet loses species that have survived for thousands (sometimes millions) of years, only to vanish in a single human lifetime. In 2025, several animals were officially declared extinct or extinct in the wild, each disappearance a reminder of how fragile Earth’s ecosystems truly are. In this post, we’ll explore some of the animals that went extinct in 2025, what led to their decline, and why paying attention to these extinctions matters now more than ever.

5 Animals That Went Extinct in 2025

Slender-billed Curlew

This bird lived on the shores of mainland Europe, North Africa, and Asia. They were last sighted in Morocco in 1995 and, although extensive efforts were made to sight the bird in its main migratory areas, they were considered extinct by this year. There aren’t many records on the behaviour of the curlew, so it’s not entirely known why they went extinct. It is believed that the destruction of their habitats for agriculture and breeding could have played a part.

Desert Rat-kangaroo

These small nocturnal mammals were part of the marsupial family and lived in deserts in South Australia and Queensland. It is believed that invasive species may have contributed to their extinction; in this case, the invasive species were domestic cats and red foxes! Habitat destruction is also thought to have played a role, with their homes destroyed to make way for livestock.

Mecodema punctellum

These insects were large black flightless beetles endemic to Stephens Island in New Zealand. Very little is known about them and their habitat, but it’s believed that they lived under large logs in wet areas. They were last seen in 1931, and their cause of extinction is recorded as habitat destruction, mainly due to the removal of the forests on the island.

Hawaiian Crow

Hawaiian Crows are still alive but have been registered as extinct in the wild. As of September 2023, only 112 adults were recorded in captivity. These crows were considered family gods by some native Hawaiians, and extensive breeding and rewilding programs have been ongoing. The efforts made to reintroduce them to the wild have been unsuccessful, and all birds were returned to captivity.

Madeiran Large White Butterfly

These butterflies were endemic to Madeira. They were first discovered in 1886, and their population was in gradual decline. Their last known sighting was in 1994. Their extinction is believed to be linked to the introduction of the small white butterfly into the area, which carried a viral infection that may have killed off the large white butterfly.

As well as the animals that went extinct this year, many animals were considered (or continue to be considered) at risk of extinction this year, such as…

• Steppe tortoise

• Mountain chicken frog

• Whale shark

• European mink

• Yellow-crested cockatoo

• Great hornbill

• African wild dog

• Antillean manatee

• Orangutan

Want to learn more about how humans impact the world (and wildlife) around us? Check out our Climate Crusaders workshop.