Researchers at Aarhus University have concluded that human hunting was the primary factor in the extinction of large mammals over the past 50,000 years. This finding is based on a review of over 300 scientific articles.
Many large species, or megafauna, weighing at least 45 kilograms, went extinct during this period. The research suggests that these extinctions were predominantly caused by human hunting rather than climate change, despite significant climate fluctuations during this period.
The debate has raged for decades: Was it humans or climate change that led to the extinction of megafauna? However, the analysis shows that species went extinct at very different times and rates around the world. In some local areas, it happened quickly, while in other places it took over 10,000 years. But everywhere, it occurred after modern humans arrived.
The research highlights the need for active conservation and restoration efforts. By reintroducing large mammals, we can help restore ecological balances and support biodiversity, which evolved in ecosystems rich in megafauna.
Reference: “The late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions: Patterns, causes, ecological consequences and implications for ecosystem management in the Anthropocene” by Jens-Christian Svenning, Rhys T. Lemoine, Juraj Bergman, Robert Buitenwerf, Elizabeth Le Roux, Erick Lundgren, Ninad Mungi, and Rasmus Ø. Pedersen, 22 March 2024, Cambridge Prisms: Extinction.
DOI: 10.1017/EXT.2024.4
The study was funded by the Villum Fonden, the Danish National Research Foundation, and the Independent Research Fund Denmark.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/man-vs-nature-new-research-uncovers-real-story-behind-the-disappearance-of-earths-largest-animals/