On June 6, 2008, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared the Carribean Monk Seal extinct due to overhunting. The last confirmed sighting dated back to 1952. In 2002, the only Yangtze River dolphin in captivity died, and the species may be extinct.

Should scientists have captured several Carribean Monk Seals and Yangtze River dolphins to live in zoos or aquariums when they had the chance? Extinction is always a tragedy, but from an animal rights standpoint, zoos should not keep endangered species.