A (incomplete) list of extinct animals of the British Isles, which may or may not still exist elsewhere. This list covers only extinctions in historical times. The date beside each species is the date of extinction.

Extinct Species

Mammals

• Auroch -
• Boar -
• Brown Bear -
• European Beaver -
• Irish Elk -
• Wolf -
• Woolly Mammoth -

Birds

• Great Auk - 1844
• Great Bustard - circa 1600-1700 (re-introduced 2004)

Fish

Amphibians

Insects

• Large Blue Butterfly - 1979

Endangered/Threatened Species

The following are endangered or have reducing populations within the British Isles and may become extinct in the future. Some suffer because of loss of habitat, but many are in decline following the introduction of foreign species, which out-compete the native species or carry disease. For example the native Red Squirrel population suffered dramatically with the introduction of the American Grey Squirrel, which carries the Squirrel pox virus. This is also the case with Brown Trout, which are cannot compete with the larger and more aggressive Rainbow trout.

Mammals

• Every British Bat Species - loss of habitat
• Red Squirrel - disease carried by grey squirrel (alien species)
• Otter - competition from Mink (alien species)
• Water Vole - loss of habitat

Birds

Birds currently on the Red List include the following:

• Great Bittern - loss of habitat
• Corncrake - globally threatened
• Wryneck
• Skylark - loss of habitat
• Song Thrush - loss of habitat
• Osprey - loss of habitat
• Red-backed Shrike
• Red Kite - loss of habitat
• Scottish Crossbill - globally threatened

Fish

• Brown Trout - competition from alien species

Amphibians

• Great Crested Newt

Insects

• High Brown Fritillary Butterfly - loss of habitat
• Bumble Bee

Reintroduction

There are plans to reintroduce the European Beaver to parts of Britain, especially Scotland.

The Red Kite, Osprey and Corncrake are also being reintroduced into parts of England and Scotland. The Great Bustard is being reintroduced on Salisbury Plain.

There are no plans to reintroduce Brown Bears or Wolves.

Aurochs, Great Auks and Woolly Mammoths are globally extinct and therefore cannot be reintroduced.

See also:

• List of British mammals