The extinction of the dodo bird on Mauritius in 1662 was primarily driven by overhunting and habitat destruction caused by European sailors and introduced species. The dodo, a flightless bird, became a symbol of human-induced extinction and the fragility of ecosystems. Its demise serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of colonization and environmental neglect.

The extinction of the dodo bird on Mauritius in 1662 became a symbol of human-induced loss in literature. This theme inspired Romantic and modern poetry, with poets like John Keats and W. H. Auden lamenting vanished species and irreversible ecological damage in their works.