The Caspian tiger, a once thriving species that ruled the forested steppes of western and central Asia, was declared extinct in the 1950s due to excessive hunting. The Russian Army was responsible for clearing predators from forested areas to make way for settlements and agriculture, resulting in approximately 50 tigers being killed each year in the early 20th century. The Soviet Union only imposed a ban on tiger hunting in 1947, by which time a significant portion of the Caspian tiger population had already been wiped out. Scientists now believe that the Caspian tiger may have lived on until the 1990s in some parts of Turkey, indicating that conservation opportunities were missed.
The premature declaration of extinction for the Caspian tiger highlights the concept known as the “Lazarus effect” or “Romeo’s error” in scientific circles. This phenomenon refers to errors in timing when a species is declared extinct, leading to missed conservation opportunities. Other animals that have been prematurely declared extinct include the Bermuda petrel, which was rediscovered in 1951 after being presumed extinct for 300 years. The forest owlet, Bocourt’s terrific skink, Arakan forest turtle, and red-crested tree rat are other species that have been rediscovered after being declared extinct, offering hope for their conservation.
The Bermuda petrel, also known as the Cahow, is Bermuda’s national bird and was presumed extinct for three centuries until 18 nesting pairs were discovered in 1951. Through conservation efforts, the Bermuda petrel’s population has seen a resurgence, although it remains listed as an endangered species. The forest owlet, endemic to central India, was rediscovered in 1997 after being declared extinct for 113 years. Its primary threat stems from deforestation in its habitat, leading to its placement on the IUCN Red List as Endangered.
Bocourt’s terrific skink, rediscovered in 2003 in New Caledonia, is at risk of extinction due to its restricted habitat range and dwindling population. The Arakan forest turtle, found in Myanmar and Bangladesh, was rediscovered in 1994 and is critically endangered due to illegal wildlife trading. The red-crested tree rat, endemic to Colombia, was rediscovered in 2011 within a protected reserve, but remains critically endangered due to threats such as predation by feral cats, climate change, and deforestation. The rediscovery of these species offers hope for their conservation and highlights the importance of accurately assessing the status of endangered animals to prevent missed opportunities for conservation.
