Alaotra Grebe: Madagascar’s Vanished Diver
This diving bird lived only in Lake Alaotra in Madagascar. Local fishermen accidentally caught them in gill nets meant for fish. Introduced carnivorous fish ate their young. Water pollution degraded their habitat. Scientists confirmed their extinction in 2010 after years without sightings. The Alaotra Grebe’s story highlights the vulnerability of species with highly restricted ranges to environmental changes.