This piece illustrates well both the reasons for and the pitfalls attending extinction declarations. This animal was known to exist, and has gone a long time without a verifiable sighting. But much in this game depends upon the intensity of the search and the confidence that all known potential habitat was properly canvassed.

There seems to be good reason to hold out hope in this instance. I knew that white-tailed deer populations in my area were at, maybe beyond, saturation when I actually started seeing them regularly. (When one comes upon a totally intact, freshly dead carcass in the woods, one REALLY knows there are probably too many.) By the same token, an animal’s numbers can fall below the threshhold at which they are readily detectable, while remnant populations continue their lives out of general sight, the impression of extinction helped along by the scientific inattention that follows an extinction declaration.

Once again, it always pays to make careful pronouncements and to keep an open mind. (Not to mention noting that commercial interests may have much to gain from extinction declarations.)

Good piece.