possibly extinct in the wild

[ pos-uh-blee ik-stingkt in thuh wahyld ]

adjective

, Biology, Ecology.

1. (as categorized by the IUCN Red List ) critically endangered to such an extent that evidence of its existence outside of captivity or a naturalized population is profoundly limited and extremely difficult to verify: : PEW

   We do have nine of these macaws in our aviary, but the species is possibly extinct in the wild.

Word History and Origins

Origin of possibly extinct in the wild¹

First recorded in 2005–10

Example Sentences

Today the subspecies is considered “critically endangered, possibly extinct in the wild.”

From Scientific American

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources lists the South China tiger as “critically endangered, possibly extinct in the wild” following decades of state-sponsored hunting.

From Scientific American

The most notable success is the whiteeared pheasant, possibly extinct in the wild.

From Time Magazine Archive