The book that you hold in your hands is dedicated to the brightest and most famous representatives of the animal kingdom, who have long disappeared from our planet and from human memory. After reading the book, you will understand the meaning of the expression "dead as a dodo" and understand where the legends about the gigantic bird Rukh came from. It will become clear to you how you managed to exterminate the billions of flocks of America's wandering pigeons, and where the amazing freshwater dolphin from the Yangtze River disappeared. And the amazing animal world, both present and past, will become even more colorful and unique for you.