The Dodo – a bird hunted to the brink of extinction by humans – has long been labeled as “stupid and foolish”. However, a recent study has revealed that this species was quite intelligent with some unique abilities.
Why Did the Dodo Go Extinct?
The Dodo – also known as the Raphus cucullatus, a relative of modern pigeons, primarily lived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. They were descendants of ancient winged creatures that once dominated the islands of Mauritius, Réunion, and Rodrigues in the Indian Ocean region.
Image of the Dodo at the Natural History Museum, University of Oxford (UK). (Photo: Wikimedia).
This large bird has attracted significant scientific attention due to its unique body structure compared to modern birds. The Dodo was flightless and moved slowly due to its very stout body, weighing between 18-25 kg. This species built nests and laid eggs directly on the ground, as the island of Mauritius had no predators or animals that could harm the Dodo, its eggs, and its chicks.
However, everything changed in 1507 when Portuguese explorers arrived on Mauritius. They were astonished to find that the Dodos were not afraid of humans, making them easy targets for hunting. Since then, ships frequently stopped at Mauritius and captured Dodos for food reserves during long voyages. The exact number of Dodos that were captured and killed remains unknown.
During this period, explorers also brought some Dodos back to Europe. Lewis Carroll – the author of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” – was likely one of those impressed by the bird, incorporating it as a character in his famous book. Unfortunately, being taken to Europe did not save this unique bird from extinction. Although there is no conclusive evidence, scientists believe the last Dodo was killed around 1690.
This large bird went extinct not only due to mass hunting. The introduction of numerous invasive species by humans, such as rats, monkeys, and pigs, was also a significant factor in the complete disappearance of the Dodo from Earth, as these alien species destroyed their nests and eggs (which were laid on the ground).
The Dodo Was Not Stupid
Humans were not only the main perpetrators of the Dodo’s extinction but also contributed to its negative reputation. The term “Dodo” in Portuguese means foolish. In some Western countries, the Dodo has become a symbol of stupidity in popular culture. However, the National Museum of Scotland and the Natural History Museum of Denmark recently published a study showing that this animal was quite intelligent and possessed special abilities.
The Dodo was actually quite intelligent.
The research team analyzed a well-preserved Dodo skull at the Natural History Museum in London, comparing it to seven modern pigeon species. Eugenia Gold – the lead researcher – stated that the Dodo’s skull was relatively large compared to its body size. This ratio is similar to pigeons, indicating that Dodos were quite intelligent, as many studies have shown that pigeons possess superior cognitive abilities compared to other animals. This bird, which symbolizes peace, can be trained to perform specific tasks such as delivering messages or guiding.
“Our research shows that the Dodo was quite intelligent. They were considered foolish for allowing humans to catch and kill them easily because they faced no threats on Mauritius, making them unaware of the danger posed by humans,” said Eugenia Gold.
Further analysis revealed that the Dodo’s brain had a highly developed part: its sense of smell was superior compared to other animals. As the Dodo lived on the ground, it evolved its sense of smell to forage for food, including fruits and marine animals such as shellfish.
Additionally, the research team discovered a peculiar ear structure with unusual curvature in the Dodo. However, they have yet to find an explanation for this phenomenon.
