Overview

• The Slender-Billed Curlew is the first bird species on European mainland to be declared extinct in the modern era, which began in the late 15th century.
• The bird was last reliably sighted in the 1990s and was native to wetlands across Europe and Asia.
• Key factors in its extinction include habitat loss due to agriculture, urban development, drainage projects, and hunting in its wintering and migratory regions.
• Conservation experts highlight the need for stronger international cooperation to protect ecosystems and prevent further species loss.
• The Naturschutzbund (NABU) emphasized that extinction is not confined to tropical regions but is also occurring locally, underscoring the fragility of ecosystems worldwide.