I fully agree with the article "Dead Clade Walking: A Tragedy" and its argument that the loss of biodiversity is a tragedy that should be acknowledged and addressed. The extinction of species and ecosystems is not just a natural part of the evolutionary process, but rather a sign that something is wrong with the way humans are interacting with the natural world.

One example of this tragedy is the extinction of the giant mammals of the Ice Age. These animals, which included mammoths, mastodons, and giant ground sloths, were once widespread across North and South America, Europe, and Asia. However, they all vanished around 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age.

There are several theories about why these animals went extinct. One theory is that they were hunted to extinction by early humans. This is supported by the fact that many of these animals have been found with evidence of human hunting, such as spear points embedded in their bones.

Another theory is that the changing climate at the end of the Ice Age led to the loss of their habitats. As the glaciers retreated and the climate warmed, the grasslands and forests that these animals relied on for food and shelter disappeared.

A third theory is that a combination of hunting and habitat loss led to their extinction. It is possible that early humans hunted these animals to the point where their populations were no longer sustainable, and then the loss of their habitats due to climate change pushed them over the edge.

While these theories are all plausible, it is likely that the true cause of the extinction of the Ice Age giants is a complex combination of factors. It is also possible that there were other factors at play that we are not yet aware of.

As for a completely crazy theory related to the uprising of aggressive squirrels, I have no evidence to support this, but it is certainly an interesting idea to consider! Perhaps the extinction of the Ice Age giants created an ecological niche that was filled by squirrels, leading to their evolution into larger, more aggressive forms. While this is purely speculative, it is an interesting thought experiment that highlights the complex and unpredictable nature of the natural world.