animals made extinct by the romans

[elpresdentde]

animals made extinct by the romans
can anyone give me an idea of the species wiped out by the games

[Loosehead]

I'd be surprised if any of the species used in the games where made extinct as a result.

[jno]

I believe there used to be European lions (around Greece way) that became extinct in the early Roman era, though I don't know if the games were involved. There also were Barbary lions from north Africa which were depleted by the Romans, though the last one died in 1922 in the Atlas mountains.

[Loosehead]

So I don't think we can blame them for the Barbery Lions then!

[Octavius]

See here:

http://www.endangeredspecieshandbook.org/persecution_roman.php

[jno]

good link Octavius. Loosehead, I think the Romans can take a substantial share of the blame; it shouldn't just go to the guy who shot the last one. But to be fair, I don't the concept of extinction meant anything much in those days; the world was more or less infinite and who knew how many lions it contained? The British in India should have had more sense.

[Zen]

What have the Romans ever do for us ?

[alijangra]

I saw a Barbery lion on tv the other day on that prog about Longleat, so they are definately not extinct!

[Octavius]

The last known Barbary Lion in the wild was shot in the Atlas Mountains in 1922.

[webbo3]

great link octavius.(is that a roman name ..lol)

a very interesting read tho.

10/10