The dodo Raphus cucullatus was a flightless bird that lived exclusively on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The dodo likely lost its ability to fly due to an abundance of food and the absence of natural predators on the island. It was first recorded by Dutch sailors in 1598 and the last widely accepted sighting occurred in 1662. In the years between the dodo was hunted by sailors and invasive animals while its forest habitat was steadily destroyed. Its extinction within less than a century of discovery became an early and powerful symbol of human caused species loss. Because no complete specimens were preserved the dodo is known today mainly through 17th century drawings and a few physical remains including a single dried head. The dodo remains a lasting symbol of extinction and obsolescence.