True facts on the Dodo bird and Extinction!
Have you heard the expression “dead as a Dodo” and wondered where it came from? Or wondered why the Dodo became extinct? Well read the facts!
The Dodo was a plump gray bird, with white feathers. It weighed in around 20 to 23 kilograms. A flightless bird, it had a hooked beak. A general friendly bird, it roamed the island of Mauritius in great numbers, back when Mauritius was quite isolated and home to a great many animals.
In 1598 AD, Portuguese sailors moored in Mauritius, where they first discovered the bird. They named it “Dodo”, which in their native tongue meant, simpleton.
The sailors mistook the gentle nature and curiosity of the Dodo for stupidity. Seeing how tame they were becoming, it was easy to capture and cook them.
Many were killed by the humans, either in meals, for their feathers or their eggs were simply crushed underfoot…
