Raphus cucullatus, the Dodo bird, is an adorable and lovable flightless bird that succumbed to the wild colonization of man. Dutch sailors first recorded the existence of the bird in 1598 on the island of Mauritius, which is east of Madagascar. Over the course of the next century, hunting by sailors and invasive species drove it to extinction less than one hundred  years after the first encounter. Unfortunately for the dodo, humanity's selfish desire for land and comfort clashed with the natural order of Mauritius, endting this beautiful species. Its extinction  has helped call attention to  humanity's growing involvement in species extinction worldwide.  The dodo inhabited the woodland areas around the coastline of  Mauritius. Early accounts of by the Dutch detail the bird's behavior.  It was herbivorous, feeding on nuts,  seeds, bulbs, and fruit. Though  flightless, its small wings were  likely used for display and balance.  Its robust legs were strong and  allowed it to move and maneuver swiftly. It had an intense bite for such an adorable animal, which it  used for defense. Due to its  unflinching nature, the settlers  believed the bird to be stupid or fearless. To some, the dodo's meat  was unpalatable, but others viewed it favorably despite toughness.