This was one of Mother Nature's weaker efforts. The flightless species of bird, a relation of pigeon, existed for only 100 years. By 1700 it had died out. The term has passed into our language as meaning extinct, or sometimes stupid.
The problem for the Dodo was that it evolved on the island of Mauritius without any natural predators. Unlike some other members of its family, for example the Passenger Pigeon, it wasn't even hunted as food – because it tasted horrible. In fact the Dutch named it 'walgvogel', the 'disgusting' bird'.
When pigs, dogs and rats were introduced, the effect was to destroy the Dodo's forest habitat and it wasn't able to adapt.
Dodo also came to mean stupid because it didn't run away even when hunted. This is why the Portuguese Christened it 'Dodo' meaning simpleton. To a hunter it wasn't even worth powder and shot as there was no sporting value. It wasn't equipped to fight for its place in nature's chain and just fell off the evolutionary ladder.
The problem for the Dodo was that it evolved on the island of Mauritius without any natural predators. Unlike some other members of its family, for example the Passenger Pigeon, it wasn't even hunted as food – because it tasted horrible. In fact the Dutch named it 'walgvogel', the 'disgusting' bird'.
When pigs, dogs and rats were introduced, the effect was to destroy the Dodo's forest habitat and it wasn't able to adapt.
Dodo also came to mean stupid because it didn't run away even when hunted. This is why the Portuguese Christened it 'Dodo' meaning simpleton. To a hunter it wasn't even worth powder and shot as there was no sporting value. It wasn't equipped to fight for its place in nature's chain and just fell off the evolutionary ladder.
