Great Auk

great Auk

Why bring it back?

• There is plenty of land and sea for Auk to live still
• Food source is plentiful 
• No great predator to other animals
• Another animal to study/learn more about
• Northern Hemisphere's version of  "Penguin" 

Habitat

• Subarctic Atlantic Ocean
• Newfoundland, British Isles, & Coasts of Norway (Rocky Shores)
• Swim in the Sea, except during breeding season (late spring)
• Need easy access to land (ledges or reefs on islands) 
• Need Fish and Crustaceans 

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Environment

Why did the Great Auk become extinct?

Reasoning

• Human cruelty and carelessness 
• Hunting (meat, feathers, oil)
• Started to become a collection to have spotted eggs & stuffed Auks
• Natural enemies: Arctic wolf & fox, Polar Bears

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reintroduction

• Success level would be high
• Effects would only be on levels of fish in water
• Food for natural predators
• Plenty of land/ocean for living
• Impact would not be huge

Fun facts

• Average height 28 inches, Weight 11 lb., Age 20-25 yrs
• Lay one egg per season 
• Closest relative still alive is the Razorbill Penguin
• Can hold breath for 15 min at a time
• Dive 75-150 meters down into the sea 

Works cited

• http://www.billfrymire.com/blog/earth-from-space/
• http://www.lucasbrouwers.nl/blog/2011/03/the-last-great-auk/
• http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nature-online/species-of-the-day/collections/our-colle...
• http://www.avibirds.com/html/Great_Auk.html
• http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Pinguinus_impennis/