Have you ever heard of these animals?

Well, they have long since been extinguished.

1. JAPANESE SEA LION 

The hunting and the destruction of its habitat by the 2nd World War ended with this species. A calf was captured in 1974. In 2007, the government of South Korea announced a plan to introduce the California sea lion into the spaces where its relative used to live.

2. MEXICAN GRIZZLY BEAR 

These huge grizzly bears came to walk through Mexican lands. This species was hunted until its disappearance because it ate the cattle of the ranches. Only 30 of them remained until 1960, but in 1964 it was considered totally extinct.

3. CYANERPES 

The introduction of non-native species of Hawaii such as pigs, cats and rats, contributed to the extinction of this bird. It is still listed as "in danger of extrusion" but none has been found despite the exhaustive searches. It was declared extinct in 2004.

MEET THESE THREE CUTE ANIMALS THAT ARE ENDANGERED IN MEXICO

1. AXOLT

Axolotl, which means "Monster of Water," is an animal that has become a symbol of Mexico. Although it has won fame for its appearance of tadpole and 126 small teeth, the characteristic of the axolotl is that it is capable of regenerating on its own. In our days, the only ones that can be taken out of the axolotl in its natural state, living in the channels of Xochimilco, Mexico City.

It is estimated that there are only 1200 specimens of this species today! 

2. LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE (Tortuga Caguama)

They are a species of turtle highly valued by the Mayan culture. They can be found both in Mexico and Japan.

Like other species of sea turtles, it is highly affected by predators from the moment it hatches and heads towards the sea. However, the human consumption of their eggs has caused their mass extinction.

3. MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Each year between the months of December and March, these orange butterflies with black patterns, the size of an adult's hand, congregate in groups of up to 250 million individuals in pine and oyamel trees in the forests of Michoacan .

These groups travel approximately 4,800 kilometers from the border between the northeast region of Estaos Unidos and Calada and their meeting point in Mexico, where they settle to reproduce. This event is one of the most impressive in the natural world.

During the last 20 years, the forests in which this wonderful event takes place have been reduced by 40%, which prevents the butterflies from being able to reproduce once they migrate.

The illegal logging of trees, the increase of accidental fires that burn the forests and the high poverty rates in the regions where the butterflies are installed are some of the threats that place this species in danger of extinction.

If this continues, monarch butterflies would disappear within 20 years!