First European Bird Species Declared Extinct in Modern Times

The Slender-Billed Curlew, last seen in the 1990s, has been driven to extinction by habitat destruction and human activity.

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.