U5 2英语（164）

Once thought to be a fictional character from Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," the dodo was in fact a real bird that once thrived in the Indian Ocean. At one time, thousands of dodos inhabited an island there, enjoying a life of plentiful food and peaceful coexistence with other animals. However, their existence took a tragic turn.

In 1598, human arrival on their island brought profound changes. Deforestation began as trees were felled, destroying the dodos' lush habitat. Being flightless and slow-moving, they fell easy prey to human hunters who sought them for food. Additionally, introduced species such as pigs, cats, and dogs further decimated the dodo population by consuming their eggs.

Today, the dodo exists only in museum displays, a poignant reminder of human impact on wildlife. Their story serves as a stark warning about the consequences of human activities on vulnerable species. It underscores the importance of conservation efforts to protect Earth's diverse and extraordinary creatures from meeting a similar fate.