Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record

Lost Animals: Extinction and the Photographic Record examines extinct species through the lens of photography, focusing on animals that vanished during the era when photography was possible. Author Errol Fuller presents and analyzes photographs of 28 extinct creatures, from the Thylacine to the Passenger Pigeon. The book combines historical records, eyewitness accounts, and scientific data with rare photographs of these lost species. Each entry includes details about the animal's habitat, behavior, and the circumstances that led to its extinction, along with the stories behind the surviving photographs themselves. Technical information about the photographic equipment and techniques of the era provides context for these unique images. Fuller discusses the limitations and challenges faced by early wildlife photographers who captured these final visual records. Through this collection of photographs and documentation, the book serves as both a scientific record and a meditation on humanity's impact on other species. The work raises questions about conservation and our responsibility to protect endangered animals before they exist only in photographs.

Readers appreciate the historical value of the rare extinction photographs and find the detailed species accounts informative. Many note the book provides a sobering look at recently lost species through unique photographic documentation. Multiple reviews mention the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) photos as particularly impactful. Common criticisms point to the image quality, with some photos appearing grainy or unclear. A few readers wanted more information about conservation efforts and found the writing style dry. "The photos make extinction feel more real and immediate" - Goodreads reviewer "Some images are frustratingly low resolution" - Amazon reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (32 ratings) LibraryThing: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) The book receives consistent praise for its educational value but lower marks for production quality. Most negative reviews focus on technical aspects rather than content.

Hope is the Thing with Feathers by Christopher Cokinos A chronicle of six extinct North American bird species through historical accounts, photographs, and specimen records.

Brief History of the Passenger Pigeon by A.W. Schorger A documentation of the passenger pigeon's biology, behavior, and decline using nineteenth-century records and firsthand accounts.

Ghost Birds by Stephen Lyn Bales The story of naturalist James T. Tanner's quest to document the last imperial woodpeckers through photographs and field notes.

The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert An examination of Earth's mass extinctions through encounters with endangered and recently extinct species.

A Gap in Nature by Tim Flannery, Peter Schouten A catalog of extinct animals from 1600 to present day with paintings based on museum specimens and historical descriptions.

🌟 This book contains the last known photographs ever taken of extinct species, including the only known video footage of the Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger). 📸 Author Errol Fuller is a renowned wildlife artist and natural history expert who has written several other books about extinct birds, including the Great Auk and Dodo. 🦅 The book features photos of the Passenger Pigeon "Martha," the last of her species, who died at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914 after living there for 29 years. 🎞️ Some of the photographs in the book were discovered in unlikely places, including flea markets and forgotten archives, representing crucial historical documentation of lost species. 🦁 The Barbary Lion, featured in the book, was once used by the Romans in gladiatorial combat and went extinct in the wild in 1922, though some of its genes may survive in captive lions.