Dodo

Prelims – Environment – Species  

• Flightless bird, about 3 feet tall.
• Weighed around 10–20 kg (depending on diet and habitat).
• Family: Columbidae (related to pigeons and doves)

Habitat:

1. 1. Endemic to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.
   2. Lived in forested areas and fed on fruits, seeds, and roots.

Extinction:

1. 1. Declared extinct by the late 1600s (last confirmed sighting in 1662).
   2. Cause: Overhunting by humans, habitat destruction, and introduction of non-native species (e.g., rats, pigs, monkeys) that ate dodo eggs.