Scientists Are Closer Than Ever To Resurrecting Some Of History’s Most Fascinating Creatures.
The idea of bringing extinct animals back to life feels like something out of science fiction, but for researchers, it’s quickly becoming a reality. With advances in gene editing and DNA technology, scientists are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. The goal? To restore lost species and even repair damaged ecosystems.
While the ethics and practicality of de-extinction are still hotly debated, the potential to revive these animals offers an intriguing glimpse into the future of conservation. Here are 11 remarkable creatures scientists are trying to bring back to life.
1. Dodos Could Return To Mauritius
The flightless dodo bird of Mauritius went extinct in the late 17th century due to human activity. Colossal Biosciences recently announced a $150 million project to bring back the dodo using DNA from preserved specimens and its closest living relative, the Nicobar pigeon. Restoring the dodo could help reinvigorate Mauritius’ native forests, where it played a crucial role in seed dispersal. Scientists must also consider how modern predators and environmental changes might impact the survival of reintroduced populations.
Restoring the dodo could help rejuvenate Mauritius’ ecosystems, where the bird played a key role in seed dispersal. However, as noted by , ethical questions remain about how the dodo would fare in a modern world vastly different from its original habitat.
2. Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers Might Not Be Gone Forever
The ivory-billed woodpecker, thought to be extinct since the 1940s, remains a symbol of hope for de-extinction efforts. recently announced plans to search for any remaining individuals and potentially revive the species through genetic engineering. Bringing back the ivory-billed woodpecker could revitalize swamp ecosystems where it once thrived. However, questions remain about whether enough suitable habitats still exist to support a reintroduced population.
Whether the ivory-billed woodpecker still exists or not, its story highlights the importance of preserving habitats to prevent future extinctions. Advances in de-extinction could offer a path forward for similar endangered species.
3. Tasmanian Tigers Might Get A Second Chance
The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was a dog-like marsupial native to Australia that went extinct in 1936 due to human hunting. Researchers at the University of Melbourne are collaborating with Colossal Biosciences to recreate the thylacine using gene editing and the genome of its closest living relative, the numbat. Reviving this species could help control invasive species in Australia, restoring balance to disrupted ecosystems. Moreover, the project serves as a blueprint for preserving genetic material of other at-risk marsupials.
Bringing back the thylacine could help restore balance to Australian ecosystems, where invasive species have taken over. According to , reviving this species could also help scientists refine de-extinction techniques for other animals.
4. Woolly Mammoths Could Roam The Tundra Once More
The woolly mammoth, an iconic Ice Age species, went extinct around 4,000 years ago. Scientists at Colossal Biosciences are using CRISPR gene editing to splice mammoth DNA into Asian elephant genomes, aiming to create a cold-resistant “mammophant” hybrid. These hybrids could help restore Arctic ecosystems by promoting grassland regrowth and reducing methane emissions trapped in permafrost. Additionally, the project provides a testbed for refining genetic engineering techniques that could benefit other conservation efforts. These efforts could help restore Arctic grasslands and mitigate climate change by trapping carbon in the soil.
Researchers hope to have the first mammoth-elephant hybrid calves by 2027, as noted by . Beyond the science, reintroducing these animals raises questions about how they’d interact with today’s ecosystems and modern wildlife.
5. Passenger Pigeons Could Fill The Skies Again
Once numbering in the billions across North America, passenger pigeons went extinct in 1914 due to overhunting. The non-profit Revive & Restore is working to genetically engineer band-tailed pigeons to resurrect this species, aiming to begin captive breeding by 2025. Their reintroduction could revive the ecological roles they played, such as promoting forest health through seed dispersal. However, adapting these birds to modern ecosystems, where many original habitats have changed, will pose a significant challenge. Their efforts are driven by the hope of restoring forest ecosystems that passenger pigeons once shaped.
This ambitious project demonstrates how de-extinction could enhance biodiversity. However, it also highlights the challenges of reintroducing a species that has been gone for over a century, including the need to adapt to modern environmental changes.
6. Quaggas Could Make A Comeback
The quagga, an extinct subspecies of plains zebra, disappeared in the 1880s. The Quagga Project in South Africa is using selective breeding of plains zebras to recreate the quagga’s unique striping pattern. These efforts aim to restore a piece of Africa’s biodiversity and historical ecology. By reintroducing quaggas to their former habitats, scientists hope to better understand their ecological roles and how they might contribute to the health of grassland ecosystems. These efforts have already produced animals with partial quagga-like appearances.
If successful, this project could restore a lost part of Africa’s biodiversity. Reintroducing quaggas could also help reinvigorate grassland ecosystems, but critics argue whether these recreated animals are truly quaggas or merely lookalikes.
7. Aurochs Could Roam Europe Again
The aurochs, the wild ancestor of modern cattle, went extinct in 1627. European scientists are using back-breeding techniques to recreate aurochs-like cattle, aiming to restore wild grazing ecosystems. These recreated animals could help manage vegetation growth, reduce wildfire risks, and improve soil health in degraded landscapes. Their return also raises questions about how such large grazers might interact with current agricultural practices. These large grazers once played a vital role in maintaining open landscapes and supporting diverse plant and animal life.
While the results look promising, skeptics question whether back-bred cattle can fully replicate the ecological roles of the original aurochs. Still, the effort demonstrates the potential for de-extinction to aid conservation efforts.
8. Pyrenean Ibex Was Cloned But Didn’t Survive
The Pyrenean ibex, a mountain goat from Spain, went extinct in 2000. In 2003, scientists briefly cloned a Pyrenean ibex, though it died shortly after birth. This was the first—and so far only—extinct animal to be brought back, even if just temporarily. The attempt marked a pivotal moment in cloning science, inspiring further advancements in de-extinction. Reviving this species fully could help stabilize ecosystems in its native mountainous regions.
While cloning technology has advanced since then, replicating extinct species remains a significant challenge. The short-lived success of the Pyrenean ibex highlights both the possibilities and limitations of de-extinction science.
9. Heath Hens Could Roam Coastal North America
The heath hen, native to coastal North America, went extinct in 1932. Revive & Restore is working to resurrect this species using DNA from museum specimens and the genome of its closest living relative, the prairie chicken. Reviving this species could restore the ecological balance of coastal areas, where it once played a role in seed dispersal and insect control. Ensuring the heath hen’s survival will depend on addressing the habitat destruction that contributed to its original decline.
Reintroducing heath hens could help restore the balance of coastal ecosystems. However, ensuring their survival would require addressing the environmental factors that led to their extinction in the first place.
10. Steller’s Sea Cow Could Grace The Oceans Again
Steller’s sea cow, a giant marine herbivore, went extinct in 1768 due to overhunting. Russian scientists are exploring the possibility of reviving Steller’s sea cow using genome editing of its closest living relative, the dugong. Reintroducing this species could help restore kelp forest ecosystems, which are crucial for biodiversity and carbon storage. However, adapting such a large marine animal to modern environmental conditions, including increased ocean pollution, presents significant challenges.
Reintroducing this species could help restore kelp forest ecosystems, where they once played a crucial role. However, the feasibility of reintroducing such a large animal to modern oceans remains uncertain.
11. Moas Could Walk New Zealand’s Forests Again
Moas, giant flightless birds of New Zealand, were hunted to extinction around 1300 CE. Scientists have sequenced moa DNA from fossil remains and are exploring de-extinction possibilities using their closest living relatives, the tinamous. Reviving moas could help restore New Zealand’s forest ecosystems, where they once played an essential role in seed dispersal. However, their reintroduction would require careful planning to avoid conflicts with modern land use and agriculture.
Reviving moas could help restore New Zealand’s unique ecosystems, which have been heavily altered by human activity. However, their reintroduction would require careful planning to avoid conflicts with modern agricultural practices.
De-extinction offers a fascinating glimpse into what the future of conservation might hold. While the science is still in its infancy, the potential to restore lost species brings both hope and controversy. Balancing the ecological benefits with ethical considerations will be key to determining whether these efforts succeed.