years ago has been brought back to life—at least partially—by scientists at Colossal Biosciences, a biotech company based in Dallas. The firm announced it had successfully created three dire wolf pups using ancient DNA, cloning, and gene-editing techniques.The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), a prehistoric
predator larger than today’s gray wolf, once
roamed North America and was made iconic by
its fictional counterpart in HBO’s Game of
Thrones. According to Colossal, the newly born
pups resemble their extinct ancestors in size and features, possessing wider heads, thicker white fur, and stronger jaws.
To achieve this scientific milestone, Colossal’s
researchers extracted ancient DNA from two
fossils—a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-
year-old skull. They then assembled high-
quality genomes and compared them to those of
living canids, such as wolves, jackals, and foxes.
This allowed them to isolate and edit key genes
associated with dire wolf traits.
Using CRISPR technology, scientists made 20precise edits in 14 genes of gray wolf cells. The
edited cells were cloned and transferred into
donor eggs, which were then implanted in
domestic dog surrogates. The result: two male
pups born on October 1, 2024, and a female
born on January 30, 2025.
The three wolves now reside at a secure and
undisclosed 2,000-acre facility, monitored with
drones, cameras, and 10-foot-tall zoo-grade
fencing. The site has been certified by the
American Humane Society and registered with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The extinct species
Colossal emphasizes that while the genome of
these animals is 99.9% gray wolf, they carry and
express dire wolf traits—raising philosophical
questions about how much genetic change is
required to define a species. According to
evolutionary genomics expert Love Dalén, who
advised on the project, the wolves represent a
resurrection of the dire wolf phenotype, or
observable traits.
Beyond resurrecting extinct species like the dire
wolf, woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian
tiger, Colossal is also applying its technology to
support endangered animals. The company
recently produced two litters of cloned red
wolves—one of the most critically endangered
canid species—using a gentler, less invasive
cloning method developed during the dire wolf
project.
We’re Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction
company responsible for bringing back the
first animals from extinction. Our dire wolf
pups, Romulus and Remus, were born on
October 1, 2024.
While some critics argue that de-extinction
diverts funds from more urgent conservation
efforts, others recognize Colossal’s efforts to
prioritize animal welfare. Still, questions remain
about the ecological role—if any—these recreated animals will play.
Experts caution that even if dire wolves could
survive in modern habitats, practical and political barriers could prevent their reintroduction into,the wild.
