extinct (Page 5)

A rare Spix’s macaw has been returned to its home country of Brazil, in an attempt to revive the nearly-extinct species. Although the breed is protected by international treaties, it was probably smuggled into the U.S. from Brazil 25 years ago. There are only about a dozen inbred birds left in Brazil, so the newcomer can inject some genetic diversity into the remaining population, and perhaps prevent the species from becoming extinct.
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The success of Viagra has drastically reduced the demand for the body parts of wild animals that are used in traditional cures for impotence, especially in Asia. Since the drug was introduced in 1998, worldwide trade in some rare and endangered species has fallen more than 70%. Frank von Hippel says, “Viagra is cheaper than many animal products and its action is pronounced, immediate and effective.” He studied three illegally hunted animals: Alaskan reindeer, hooded seals and harp seals.

Sales of reindeer antlers fell by 72% from $700,000 in 1997 to $200,000 in 1998. The number of seal penises being traded fell from around 40,000 in 1996 to 20,000 in 1998, and the price dropped from $100 to $15 each by 1999.
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An newly-evolved species has a much better chance of surviving for a long time if it first appears right after a mass extinction. University of Cincinnati geologist Arnold Miller has found that the trend holds true no matter what was the ultimate cause of each mass extinction. New species were more widespread and fared better over the long run.

Miller used a database of marine fossils to examine longevity trends throughout the Phanerozoic era of the last 540 million years. In four separate cases, he found that creatures that first appeared following mass extinctions survived for longer periods of time than those that appeared at other times.
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