It is National Science Week, a time to celebrate everything we love about the wonderful world of science!
This year’s theme is “Species Survival – More Than Just Sustainability”. The Science faculty have planned a few activities across the week which students can get involved with at lunchtimes on the Stamford Floor.
In addition, there will be a morning quiz of “Guess the Extinct Animal” based on a series of clues; here are today’s clues…
- This flightless bird belonged to the order Columbiformes, known for its stout build and hooked beak, and was endemic to a small island in the Indian Ocean.
- It was first documented by Dutch sailors in the late 1500s and was extinct by the late 17th century, primarily due to human impact and the introduction of non-native species.
- The island it inhabited is known for its diverse flora and fauna, and the bird played a role in the seed dispersal of certain endemic plants.
- Despite its inability to fly, this bird thrived on the ground, feeding on fruits, seeds, and possibly small invertebrates in the dense forests of its island home.
- This iconic bird, native to Mauritius, is often associated with the phrase “as dead as a _____” and is a symbol of human-induced extinction.
