DODO

The Dodo was a bird which used to live only on the island of Mauritius. It was from the same family as pigeons and doves. It was very large ; a meter tall and approximately 20 kilograms.
It had grey feathers and yellow legs. It made its nest on the ground because it couldn't fly. It ate fruits.
The Dodo was discovered in 1581 when humans first inhabited the island. It wasn't afraid of people. So it was easy to hunt. But most of Dodos died because of the animals people brought. The pigs, dogs, cats and rats that came with humans destroyed the Dodo's nests. Also, humans destroyed the forests which were home to the Dodos. So by the end of the 17th century the Dodo became extinct.
By Semiha Aydemir


INDRI

The Indri is one of the largest area of the lemurs. It's 64 to 72 cm in height and 5 to 13 kilograms in weight. It is native to the island of Madagascar. Its original name is Babakato.
The Indri is a great climber. It moves from tree to tree with the help of its long legs and arms. It has got a black skin and black fur with white spots. It is different from other lemurs, it hasn't got a tail. It mostly eats tree leaves. Sometimes it eats fruits, seeds and flowers.
Humans seldom hunt Indris because of its mythological and traditional importance. But it is an endangered species because humans destroy its habitat. Another reason for the decline of Indri population is the low rate of reproduction.
By Hümeyra Karayel