Things we lost... Honshu wolf.

The Honshu wolf (or Japanese wolf) was the smallest wolf existing in the world, as it was only 84 cm long (not counting the tail) and 39 cm tall. 

In the Japanese Islands it was called "the howling God" and it was respected but also widely feared, so much so that in the country houses people hung talismans outside to protect themselves from those beasts. 

At the end of the 19th century, Japan knew an unprecedented process of industrialization and this led to the felling of many forests where the small wolf lived. 

Furthermore, an always more ruthless hunt to this animal began, with a bounty of 10 YEN by the government for each specimen. 

Tremendous rabies outbreaks finally decimated them. 

The last specimen was killed in 1905 (same fate befell its "cousin", the Hokkaido wolf). 

(Thanks to Lorenzo S. for helping me writing this post)