Why is the dodo so iconic?

For various reasons: It was so unique and endemic only to the island of Mauritius; It was very well known in Europe in the 17th century, where it was considered a symbol of exotic lands. It was widely featured in literature ever since, particularly in children's books such as Alice in Wonderland. read more

The latter was actually a much more significant feat, both in the impact the species had on human life and the environment, and in terms of the sizes of the populations involved. read more

It was so unique and endemic only to the island of Mauritius It was very well known in Europe in the 17th century, where it was considered a symbol of exotic lands. It was widely featured in literature ever since, particularly in children’s books such as Alice in Wonderland. read more

The Dodo Bird disappeared so quickly off the face of the earth, 300 years ago, that it has become the poster bird for extinction: perhaps you've heard the popular expression "as dead as a dodo." As sudden and swift as the Dodo's demise was, though, this unfortunate bird holds important lessons for endangered animals that are just barely avoiding extinction in the present day. read more