Is the Dodo really dead?

The following clip has supposed drone footage of three running Dodos in rural Mauritius.

The Dodo was a large flightless bird found only on the island of Mauritius.

It apparently became extinct around 1700, when it was widely hunted by sailors and the pigs, cats and rats they introduced to the erstwhile uninhabited island.

However, DNA tests show the Dodo is closely related to the pigeon, and especially the Nicobar pigeon, which is its closest living relative.

De-extinction using historic DNA and living pigeons might be an option.

But perhaps the Dodo is still with us:

a reply to: halfoldman

Send Tucan Sam down to investigate. If he finds a Dodo, we all get a free box of Fruit Loops.

That would be so cool if this bird thought extinct was still hopping around.

It's going to need some serious evidence.

In today's world, anything is possible.

OK.

Now we need to enhance the footage and see it more clearly.

But supposing they're alive. I hate to say it, but they have some economic potential that would make them a valuable species beyond simply their value as a unique species. They were supposed to be quite tasty which is why they were hunted so hard. They were called mutton birds I think which implied that's sort of what they tasted like.

That's right, unlike everything else in the world, they did not taste like chicken.

Would it be possible to not only bring them back from extinction but to also domesticate a population? That would provide a new resource for the people in the area for themselves and for export.

Imagine Cern opened a portal, and a few Dodos slipped through.

Apparently they weren't stupid, nor slow and cumbersome (that was just the artistic-style of the time).

a reply to: halfoldman

Assuming there were no humans on the island, they would initially have seemed stupid because they would have had no natural fear of humans. You only get one chance to make a first impression.

a reply to: ketsuko

Although there's still some debate on whether the humans actually wiped them out, since historic accounts vary, but apparently they weren't so good to eat after all.

Pigs, rats, dogs, cats and monkeys were however all introduced by the first settlers as food (not only the Dutch and Portuguese brought their domestic livestock, but also people from Indonesia, India, Africa and Madagascar).

So no doubt it was human impact, but whether they were all "clubbed" for food is questionable.

a reply to: halfoldman

The native population would only have lasted so long at high levels of abundance.

And find me one place where people have't brought their pigs along with them ... maybe the Middle East. Rats, of course, go everywhere no matter how much we don't want them to.

Talk about a titillating topic (for those of you who enjoy consonance).

To find the dodo still alive would truly be stupendous

originally posted by: NoCorruptionAllowed
That would be so cool if this bird thought extinct was still hopping around.

It's going to need some serious evidence.

In today's world, anything is possible.

Do you suppose it tastes like chicken?

originally posted by: ketsuko
a reply to: halfoldman

Assuming there were no humans on the island, they would initially have seemed stupid because they would have had no natural fear of humans. You only get one chance to make a first impression.

Reminds me of Nara, outside Osaka, Japan It was always protected as a Royal forest...its famous for the "tame" deer as theyve never been hunted. They will eat right out of your hand.

a reply to: BlueJacket

No, supposedly tastes like mutton, which is sheep I believe? Correct me if I am wrong. My fav bird to date is quail, been many years since I had one since I do not hunt anymore but, magnificent! Did have lamb on a gyro today though, man I love those lol

a reply to: BlueJacket

The Dodo was generally considered tough and fatty to eat.
Although it did happen, they were not the first choice for humans at all.

Some early travellers found dodo meat unsavoury, and preferred to eat parrots and pigeons; others described it as tough but good. Some hunted dodos only for their gizzards, as this was considered the most delicious part of the bird. Dodos were easy to catch, but hunters had to be careful not to be bitten by their powerful beaks.[87]

en.wikipedia.org...

do you think there is an place for animals in an human world ?

a reply to: ressiv

There must be, humans cannot exist all alone.

We need the animals - circle of life.

a reply to: ressiv

Also depends how big the animal.

With the Dodo no problem. (Hey stop biting my ankle.)

With the mammoth?

Where to keep it maybe a bigger problem.

originally posted by: BlueJacket

originally posted by: NoCorruptionAllowed
That would be so cool if this bird thought extinct was still hopping around.

It's going to need some serious evidence.

In today's world, anything is possible.

Do you suppose it tastes like chicken?

That was already covered.......you babbling booby !!

it would be superb if the Dodo has survived.

Im still around ,mike doddo a reply to: halfoldman