Megalania ‘The Giant Ripper Lizard’ (Varanus priscus)
This giant lizard, similar to a huge Komodo dragon, could reach seven meters in length and weigh up to two tons, likely going extinct due to early human settlers in Australia.
Woolly Rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)
These two-ton beasts with meter-long horns adapted to cold weather, but rapid post-ice-age warming and human activities contributed to their extinction.
Irish Elk (Megaloceros giganteus)
Standing two meters tall with massive antlers, the Irish elk's extinction was influenced by habitat loss, human hunting, and possibly their large antlers.
Ground Sloths (Order, Pilosa)
These giant sloths, with some species as large as elephants, went extinct largely due to human hunting, with the last known species disappearing around the end of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
Moa (Order, Dinornithiformes)
These flightless birds, almost four meters tall, were wiped out within 100 years of human arrival in New Zealand, with good DNA samples making them candidates for revival by cloning.
Aurochs (Bos primigenius)
These large cows, standing almost two meters tall, went extinct due to habitat loss and hunting, with the last known aurochs dying in Poland in 1627.
Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
The infamous flightless bird from Mauritius was easily hunted by sailors and settlers, making it a top candidate for de-extinction efforts.
Woolly Mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)
Most woolly mammoths died out 10,000 years ago, but a small population survived longer on a Siberian island, succumbing to disease due to low genetic diversity.
Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
This giant lizard, similar to a huge Komodo dragon, could reach seven meters in length and weigh up to two tons, likely going extinct due to early human settlers in Australia.