На протяжении всего многовекового существования Our planet many species of plants and animals have appeared and disappeared. Some of them died out due to unfavorable habitat conditions, climate change, etc., but most died at the hands of humans. Steller's cow, or rather the story of its extermination, became a vivid example of human cruelty and short-sightedness, because with such speed with which this mammal was destroyed, not a single living creature on earth was destroyed.
The animal is named after the scientist-encyclopedistSteller, who discovered this species in 1741. The mammal was very calm, harmless and friendly. Its weight was about 5 tons, and the length of the body reached 8 m. The fat of the cow was especially valued, its thickness was in the width of the human palm, it had a rather pleasant taste and did not spoil completely even in the heat. The meat resembled beef, only a little denser, ascribed healing properties to it. The skin was used for upholstery boats.
Охотились на коров сразу около 30 человек, потому that the unfortunates rested, and they were difficult to pull ashore. When injured, the mammal breathed heavily and moaned, if relatives were nearby, they tried to help, turned the boat over and beat their tails on the rope. Sad as it may seem, but the Steller's cow has been destroyed in less than three decades since the discovery of the species. Already in 1768, the last representative of this good-natured sea dweller disappeared.
Whatever it was, but Steller's cow wasexterminated by man. There are still manatees and dugongs from the squad of sirens today, but they are on the verge of extinction. Constant poaching, water pollution, changes in the natural habitat, deadly injuries from ships - all this reduces the number of these wonderful animals every year.