About this season
Of all the species that have ever existed, 99.9% are now extinct. This documentary brings to life the compelling stories of these lost creatures and solves the mystery of their demise.
Episodes (6)
1. Dodo
Aired 25 September 2001 • 30 min
Using the latest scientific research, advanced computer graphics technology and animatronics, Extinct looks at the life and demise of the dodo in the 1660s.
2. The Sabre Tooth
Aired 2 October 2001 • 30 min
Theories for the extinction of the sabre-toothed tiger approximately 11,00 years ago have centred on climate change and the consequent loss of prey, but new evidence points to other factors.
3. The Irish Elk
Aired 9 October 2001 • 30 min
The Irish Elk, a giant prehistoric creature that was neither Irish nor an elk, but a deer. Weighing as much as ten men with antlers spanning twelve feet, was the Irish elk a victim of its own success? Growing ever-bigger antlers sapped vital minerals and left the elk with brittle bones. As food became scarce during the Ice Age, the elk, hungry and weakened, faced a battle to survive...
4. The Great Auk
Aired 16 October 2001 • 30 min
A look at the life and demise of the great Auk, solving the mystery of its extinction using the latest scientific research and computer graphics.
5. The Mammoth
Aired 23 October 2001 • 30 min
Palaeontologist Sylvia Gonzalez examines the remains of the Columbian Mammoth, weighing twice as much as his woolly cousin. Perfectly adapted to the lush climate in South America, no animal was fierce enough to kill it.
6. The Tasmanian Tiger
Aired 30 October 2001 • 30 min
The last Tasmanian Tiger was shot dead by a farmer in 1930, but was it man or nature that finally did for this beautifully evolved animal?