SPIX’S MACAW (EXTINCT IN THE WILD)
Possibly the most high-profile animal on this list, the Spix’s macaw was recently declared as extinct in the wild. They were vibrant blue parrots native to Brazil who became well-known after starring in 20th Century Fox’s animated film, Rio, released in 2011.
Their population in the wild dwindled after a dam was created, their habitats deforested, and their species trapped for illegal pet trade, said Jake Massey in a 2019 Ladbible article. Bird Life International estimates that only 60 to 80 of these beautiful birds remain living, but in captivity. The last sighting of a Spix’s macaw in the wild was in 2016.