Product Overview

Description

The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a fascinating and iconic bird that has captured the imagination of people around the world. Despite the wealth of information available, there remains much we do not know about the life history and behavior of this unique species.

The dodo was once widely distributed on the island of Mauritius, with the highest concentration in the lowlands and drier regions. Fossil evidence suggests that they were long-lived birds with slow reproductive rates, breeding at the end of the Austral winter and laying just one egg per year in a ground nest. The chicks of the dodo were known to grow rapidly, reaching almost full size within a few months. Dodos fed on fallen fruit and seeds and were perfectly
adapted to the environment in which they lived.

The Dodo, a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius, faced rapid extinction after human arrival. First mentioned in 1599, the Dodo’s demise occurred within 80 years. The introduction of pigs and rats proved detrimental, leading to the predation of eggs and chicks. With no natural predators, the Dodo’s population was ill-equipped to handle the sudden influx of new threats. As a result, the species was unable to adapt and ultimately became extinct.