Scientists Say They Have Resurrected the Dire Wolf

In a groundbreaking feat of genetic engineering, biotech firm Colossal Biosciences claims to have resurrected the extinct dire wolf, creating three pups through cloning and gene-editing. Using ancient DNA from fossils, scientists modified gray wolf genomes—adding traits like thick fur, larger size, and broader heads—to mimic the dire wolf, which went extinct over 12,000 years ago. The hybrid animals, born via domestic dog surrogates, are considered the world’s first successfully de-extincted species. While the pups are about 99.9% gray wolf genetically, researchers argue the resemblances in traits make them effectively modern-day dire wolves. The animals now reside at a secure, 2,000-acre facility monitored for safety and health. This project adds to Colossal’s efforts to revive other extinct species like the woolly mammoth and Tasmanian tiger. Critics question the ethics, costs, and ecological roles of such de-extincted creatures, but Colossal asserts that its work could aid conservation—highlighting its recent success cloning endangered red wolves. The project raises ongoing debate over the scientific and philosophical boundaries of “resurrecting” lost species.

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