The pursuit of de-extinction has broken new ground yet again, as three young wolves are carrying on the legacy of the dire wolf species that disappeared from Earth around 12,500 years ago. Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, the company leading the de-extinction charge, recently declared that the dire wolf has returned for good.
The three wolves brought to life by the company — Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi — emulate many unmistakable dire wolf characteristics, seen in their size, skull shape, and stunning white coats. This breakthrough was made possible with technology that allowed scientists to alter gray wolf genes so they would mirror extinct dire wolf genes; while serving as a stepping stone for future de-extinction endeavors, the dire wolf project may also pave the way for the future of conservation.
When Did Dire Wolves Live?
The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) once roamed throughout North and South America during the Late Pleistocene, facing extinction near the end of the last ice age. The species may have been doomed by its diet; it dined mostly on megaherbivores, many of which would vanish in the Americas starting around 13,000 years ago, leaving dire wolves with less prey to eat.
