The dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) lived a peaceful, predator-free life on the island of Mauritius—until humans showed up. Within about 100 years of its discovery by Dutch sailors in the late 1500s, the dodo was extinct. It couldn’t fly, it wasn’t afraid of people, and it had no idea what was coming.

Today, the dodo is more than just a quirky extinct bird—it’s a symbol of how fast humans can wipe out a species. As Dr. Kenneth Lacovara put it, “Dutch sailors would club them to death, they wouldn’t even eat them, they’d stack them up and use them for firewood.” Ouch. The dodo’s fate is a reminder that we’re in the middle of a biodiversity crisis, with species disappearing faster than ever.

You can see a full dodo reconstruction in our Extinction & Hope exhibit. It’s a little sad, a little weird—and totally unforgettable.