Many animal species have been on the verge of extinction as a result of habitat loss, hunting, and environmental factors. However, through dedicated conservation efforts and protective legislation like the Endangered Species Act, many of these species have made remarkable comebacks. In this article, we highlight some of the incredible stories of animals defying extinction and what led to their recovery.
1. Somali Elephant Shrew
Neither elephant nor shrew, these small anteater-like creatures, were thought to have gone extinct back in the 1960s due to lack of data. The Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) had counted it among 25 of their ‘most wanted’ species after such an absence of sightings. Over 60 years later, they reported a sighting in Djibouti, a country within the Horn of Africa, that led researchers to investigate further. With a tasty treat of peanut butter, they were able to spot 12 of them happily living without any immediate threats to their well-being and hope to sustain this existence.
2. Black-naped Pheasant-pigeon
The black-naped pheasant pigeon hasn’t been documented by scientists since 1882 — that was until the rare bird was spotted again on camera in Papua New Guinea in 2022. The new finding was like “finding a unicorn,” the expedition’s co-leader John Mittermeier said. After a local hunter heard the pigeon’s distinctive call, researchers who received support from the American Bird Conservancy set up camera traps and were “stunned” when they managed to capture footage of the bird.
3. Fernandina Giant Tortoise
This one took over a century, but it was definitely worth the wait. Conservationists of the tortoise species rejoiced when they discovered this reptile’s feces in the Galápagos National Park in 2019, marking the first time any sign of life had appeared of the tortoise since 1906. The tortoise in question was a female understood to have been wandering the island all those years. In 2022, however, scientists definitively proved that she is a member of the chelonoidis phantasticus species — better known as the ‘fantastic giant tortoise’ — which was thought to have become extinct more than a century ago.
4. Lord Howe Stick Insect
These huge ‘tree lobsters’ were believed to be heavily affected by a shipwreck on Lord Howe Island in Australia over 100 years ago. This unleashed hordes of rats on the island with no control to contain them and nearly wiped out the insect population. Decades later, they were found thriving in the treetops surrounding Balls Pyramid, an island formed of volcanic remains. Melbourne Zoo’s captive breeding program and genome sequencing from the old museum remain, which means this story has a happy ending. Now, the Australian government plans to reintroduce them back to the island.
5. Coelacanth
The coelacanth’s rediscovery stands as one of the most significant animal rediscoveries of the 20th century. Why? Because they predated dinosaurs — that’s why. Before its rediscovery, the coelacanth’s only known habitat consisted of fossil records that were more than 65 million years old, when it is believed to have gone extinct. Very little is known to conservationists about its behaviors, but what we do know is that they lead a tranquil life on the ocean floor and that the population was estimated (in the last survey) to be between 230 to 650 fish.
6. Caspian Horse
There was a time when Americans considered the Caspian Horse, the starter breed of choice for equestrians, as a historical footnote. They were rediscovered by researcher Louise Firouz in the mountains of Iran when she was looking for horses for her new equestrian center for kids. Luckily, it worked, and there are now more than a thousand worldwide.
7. Bermudan Petrel
Over a million Bermudan Petrel were said to have made the tropical paradise their home back in the 15th century. Decimated by land mammals for centuries, their extinction appeared all but guaranteed — so much so that they were dubbed a “lazarus species,” a type of bird so disparate that any resurgence would seem like a return from the dead. This return ultimately happened in the 1950s entirely by accident and has been made possible by the fact these birds mate for life.
8. Black-browed Babbler
Two bird watchers exploring the rainforests of Borneo, Indonesia, could not believe their eyes when they spotted this long-extinct bird. Its absence from public life is the longest ‘missing period’ of any Asian animal, and people have no idea where it has been for 170 years.
9. Bald Eagle
In the 1960s, around 500 bald eagles were in the lower 48 states. Potent pesticides, such as DDT, rendered their eggshells brittle, resulting in high mortality rates among the young. With the help of the Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle population has recovered to more than 14,000 breeding pairs. Captive breeding programs, protection of habitat, and the ban on DDT have been key to this recovery.
10. Florida Panther
By the end of the 20th century, only 30 to 50 Florida panthers remained due to habitat loss and degradation. Though the population is still below 250, protections under the Endangered Species Act have been key to preventing its extinction. These efforts involve captive breeding, habitat preservation, construction of wildlife underpasses, and reintroducing Texas cougars to prevent inbreeding.
11. Gray Wolf
Gray wolves once roamed throughout North America but were nearly wiped out by trapping and poisoning. By the mid-20th century, only a few hundred were left in the lower 48 states. Today, the population of gray wolves stands above 6,000, thanks to the Endangered Species Act. Public education, habitat restoration, wolf reintroduction programs, and compensation for ranchers whose livestock are affected all have aided in this success.
12. Peregrine Falcon
In 1964, no peregrine falcons existed in the eastern United States or Canadian maritime provinces. By 1970, it had dropped to 10-20% of its historical numbers because of egg collecting, shooting, and DDT. The Endangered Species Act protections, which included captive breeding, nest protection, and habitat enhancement, have led to a thriving population. The species was delisted in 1999, and there are now approximately 3,000 breeding pairs in North America.
