great auk
US /ˌɡreɪt ˈɔːk/
UK /ˌɡreɪt ˈɔːk/
1.
a large, flightless, extinct seabird of the North Atlantic, formerly found in great numbers on rocky islands but hunted to extinction by the mid-19th century.
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The last known pair of great auks were killed on Eldey Island in 1844.
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The extinction of the great auk serves as a cautionary tale about human impact on wildlife.