After the Dire Wolf, Scientists Now Plan to Bring Back These 4 Extinct Animals

We once thought that extinct animals were just gone forever, and for many, that is the reality. But if you haven’t heard, scientists were now able to deextinct the dire wolves, an animal who have been gone for 10,000 years. This is a significant moment for modern science, and the possibilities become limitless. Now, they are eyeing to bring back a few more species, and here are the top candidates and why.

Dire Wolves Are Back!

Scientists have recently brought back the dire wolves, which have been extinct for 10,000 years. Understanding how they did it gives us the knowledge to get an idea of how to bring the other extinct animals back.

The scientists brought back the dire wolves by utilizing their descendants’ genes, the gray wolves, and DNA from ancient bones. Then they created three baby dire wolves named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. These pups are being raised in a hidden special area to study and understand them even further, and for their protection.

7 Extinct Animals That Could Actually Come Back

What this tells us is that we can bring back extinct animals as long as we can create a close enough DNA or genetic makeup of the animal. As technology evolves, our capability for gene editing improves, and the possibilities of which animals we can bring back widen.

Read more: Time

Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine)

The Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine, went extinct in 1936. Scientists have mapped the entire DNA of this species, most likely because it went extinct not too long ago. It also has a present close relative, the fat-tailed dunnart, which means that scientists could be ready soon to bring them back.

One of the possible motives to deextinct the tasmanian tiger is to help restore balance to Australia’s ecosystem. It is one of the top predators in Tasmania, which means it could help control populations of other animals, and even protect endangered species.

Read more: People

Woolly Mammoth

The woolly mammoth, a giant furry elephant, also went extinct thousands of years ago. Their extinction is primarily attributed to climate change, loss of habitats, and uncontrolled human hunting.

To be able to recreate these giant creatures, the scientists are using the frozen mammoth’s remains’ DNA combined with an Asian Elephant. They believed that bringing them back would also restore the ecosystem of the Artic region and help protect the permafrost.

Dodo

The dodo is a flightless bird from Mauritius that became extinct due to overhunting by humans in the 1600s. Scientists aim to bring them back with the help of their close relative, the Nicobar pigeon.

There is a close debate about whether scientists should bring the Dodo back to life, but if they decide to do it, there are a few benefits that will be felt immediately. However, the most important thing is that it is a hopeful message that we can now help extinct animals come back to life from different classes, and not just mammals like dire wolves.

Passenger Pigeon

Passenger pigeons are one of the birds that roamed the skies of North America, but went extinct due to habitat destruction and overhunting of the animal. The very last one was named Martha, who died at the Cincinnati Zoo on September 1, 1914.

Scientists are working to bring them back using genes of band-tailed pigeons, another close relative. These pigeons could help the North American forests by spreading seeds and therefore create habitat for other animals, which they have done long ago when they were still around.

After the Dire Wolf, These Extinct Animals Could Also Come Back

Author's Final Thoughts

Bringing the dire wolves back is a symbol of hope that humans can help other species roam the Earth once again with us. The key to it is by having access to a close animal relative of theirs, along with DNA from their fossils.

However, we have to make sure that bringing them back does not mean making them experience the cruel things that this current world has to offer. We have to let them live on their natural habitats, along with Mother Earth, and provide assistance should they need a little bit more help to thrive.

Read more: Scientists Just Discovered Dinosaur Cells That Survived 68 Million Years — Including Soft Tissue in a T. Rex Fossil