The dodo is perhaps the most famous extinct animal in the world. First discovered by the Europeans in 1507, it was already extinct by the year 1681. This large, flightless bird lived exclusively on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Its demise was caused by the same threat that faces most species today: mankind. The bird was a good source of food for settlers and sailors. In addition, the growing human population resulted in deforestation and destruction of the bird's natural habitat. The new settlers brought with them and introduced to the island for the first time such mammals as goats, cats, pigs and monkeys, which became competitors for the dodo's food sources as well as predators. There are undoubtedly many lessons to be learned by us today from how the dodo became extinct.

This dodo is definitely an interesting looking bird with his long multi-colored beak and short tail fathers. He is standing on a green field with lovely blue flowers. The clasp is a bird and tucked inside is a diploma from the Evolution University. The box is marked Artoria Peint Main, Limoges France and is signed and numbered by the artist. It measures 2¾"h x 2"w.