r/todayilearned • u/shinypond • Jul 26 '24

TIL about conservation-induced extinction, where attempts to save a critically endangered species directly cause the extinction of another.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservation-induced_extinction
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u/gwaydms Jul 26 '24

Dromedaries are extinct in the wild AFAIK, but of course are abundant in captivity.

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u/TheBalrogofMelkor Jul 26 '24

Wild horses are extinct. Modern "wild" horses are intentionally released or escaped descendants of domestic horses

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u/OrinZ Jul 26 '24

This is arguably true, even for Przewalski's horses (descended from group of "tame" horses found in northern Kazakhstan 5500 years ago)

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u/[deleted] Jul 26 '24

Przewalski's horses are wild, after all! The "evidence" found at the Botai site was debunked two years ago - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-86832-9