Buzz
De-extinction refers to the process of resurrecting extinct species. Despite the simplicity of the term, discussions often humorously reference Jurassic Park. Is this the future of combining technology with biology? Could Michael Crichton have predicted this? Researchers worldwide are attempting to perfect the ethically questionable methods of cloning and genetic modification for species that have vanished. Ironically, many of these species, including some on this list, were driven to extinction by human activities. Here are ten animals that have either been successfully cloned or could potentially be reanimated.
10. Baiji River Dolphin
These dolphins lived in the Yangtze River in China until 2002 and were the first dolphin species to go extinct due to human impact. They were also the first large mammals in recent history to disappear from the Earth.
Two different viewpoints exist regarding this cetacean species. Bryan Nelson, a freelance writer for Mother Nature Network, proposes that the Baiji Dolphin might be a viable candidate for cloning. Its recent extinction provides fresher DNA, making replication easier. However, conservationists interviewed by The Guardian mention an unverified sighting of the white dolphin, suggesting that there might still be hope for these freshwater mammals. This raises the question: Should bio-engineers hold off on cloning this species?
9. Saber-Toothed Cats
A prominent predator of the Ice Age, the Saber-Toothed Tiger has been the subject of discussions surrounding its potential revival. These cats are believed to have perished during the Quaternary Extinction, a period marked by significant climate change. Fossils of Pleistocene-era mammals found in the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles could provide vital clues for their possible cloning. But the real question remains: Why would scientists seek to bring this mighty predator back to life?
8. Woolly Rhino
Another massive mammal from the Quaternary Extinction, the Woolly Rhino gained attention when a frozen baby specimen was discovered in the Siberian Ice. In 2015, a businessman stumbled upon the carcass during a hunting trip, and what made this discovery remarkable was the fact that it had been almost perfectly preserved in the ice for about 12,000 years.
Cloning this species would present a significant challenge. Brian Stillard, a writer for Nature World News, highlights a key fact that most scientists agree on: “the key to cloning any prehistoric beast is finding a complete copy of its DNA and finding a suitable mother.” Unfortunately, the closest living relatives to the Woolly Rhinos are the Sumatran Rhinos, which themselves are critically endangered.
7. Passenger Pigeons
These birds vanished by the millions in a short period, primarily due to commercial hunting and technological progress. The technological advancements of the 1800s made the passenger pigeons' role as a carrier less essential for humans, leading to alternative uses. Humans hunted these pigeons for both food and sport, sold their bodies, and profited in every way imaginable.
If any animal embodies the concept of animal revival and conservation, it is the passenger pigeon. The last known pigeon, named Martha, passed away in the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914. For the past four years, Ben Novak, a research consultant for the non-profit organization Revive & Restore, and his team have been researching their de-extinction project titled “The Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback.” They believe that reviving these pigeons could significantly benefit North American forests and restore ecological balance.
6. Thylacine
Also known as the Tasmanian Tiger, this Australian native species was officially declared extinct in 1936. Like many other species on this list, the thylacine's extinction was caused by human activities. European settlers arriving in Australia in the mid-1800s regarded these tigers as pests, leading to widespread bounty hunting that became the primary driver of their extinction.
Much like the Passenger Pigeon, the last known Thylacine perished in captivity. Despite its fearsome name, this creature was harmless to humans. The Australian government website describes the Thylacine as having “a head like a wolf, a striped body like a tiger, and a backward-facing pouch like a wombat. It was as astonishing as the platypus, which had caused a sensation in Europe when it was first discovered.”
Australian researchers have made significant advancements in cloning the Tasmanian Tiger, with a preserved pup dating back to 1866. Once the genetic puzzle is fully assembled, their plan is to implant an egg into a Tasmanian Devil.
5. Moa
The arrival of humans in New Zealand led to the extinction of all nine Moa species. The Polynesians first settled there in the 13th century, and they quickly wiped out these large, flightless birds. The Maori hunted the Moa for food, as they were easy prey. The feathers and skin were used for clothing, while the bones were fashioned into jewelry and fish hooks. Ongoing research is focused on reviving these birds, contributing to the scientific fascination with resurrecting megafauna.
4. Gastric-Brooding Frog
A relatively recent addition to the extinction list, this frog was last officially seen in Queensland around 1983. Factors like deforestation, invasive species, harmful bacteria, and habitat loss due to climate change are often cited as the main causes of their extinction.
This frog is a scientific marvel due to its unique reproduction method. After external fertilization by the male, the female swallows the fertilized eggs and keeps them in her stomach for about six weeks before regurgitating froglets. As far as we know, no other frog undergoes such a birthing process.
Professor Mike Archer from the University of South Wales is dedicated to reviving these amphibians. He has made significant progress, including creating an embryo. Continuing his research, he optimistically told National Geographic, “We can ultimately fix the wild.”
3. Woolly Mammoth
This majestic creature vanished during the last Ice Age, likely due to hunting, though some studies suggest that rising temperatures may have also played a role in their extinction. The presence of humans alongside megafauna has often proved fatal for the latter. Like the Woolly Rhino, the remains of Woolly Mammoths have been frequently discovered, especially in the Arctic, where they met their end.
The Woolly Mammoth has become an iconic symbol of the Ice Age, a status that has fueled researchers' fascination with the species. As Hendrik Poinar mentions in a “TedxTalks” on de-extinction, the continued interest in these creatures has driven efforts to reconstruct their genomes. Today, scientists from North America to Siberia are working on mammoth genome restructuring for potential replication.
The Asian Elephant, the Woolly Mammoth’s closest relative, may hold the key to cloning success. The potential revival of the Woolly Mammoth could help restore ecological balance in Siberia’s permafrost and grasslands. According to Ross Anderson in The Atlantic Magazine, the mammoth is an ideal cloning candidate for numerous environmental reasons. Moreover, the idea of resurrecting this incredible species excites scientists, as the mammoth is one of the most treasured creatures from the past.
2. Pyrenean IBEX
This mountain-dwelling goat, also known as the Bucardo, roamed the Spanish mountains until it became officially extinct in 2000. Once again, it was hunting combined with gradual habitat destruction that led to the demise of this subspecies.
However, the Bucardo holds the distinction of being the first species to ever be successfully cloned. In 2009, scientists used frozen skin cells to create an embryo, and after several unsuccessful insemination attempts, a female goat finally gave birth to a calf derived from a cloned egg. Tragically, the calf lived only seven minutes due to a lung defect. Alberto Fernández-Arias, the leading advocate for this animal’s de-extinction, quickly resumed his efforts and continues to work toward a successful clone.
1. Dodo
The tragic story of the dodo bird’s extinction, similar to that of the Moa, is tied to the arrival of settlers. These birds lived on the island nation of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, but they were driven to extinction in the 17th century, largely due to the actions of Dutch settlers.
What is often less known, however, is that the ruthlessness of the settlers was not the sole reason for their extinction. It was also the introduction of animals such as pigs and rats, which brought diseases to the island and began eating the dodo’s eggs. This combination of factors sealed the bird's fate.
There have been discussions, notably in “TedxTalks,” about the possibility of bringing the dodo back, but that is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Nearly all evidence of the dodo had been lost until the discovery and preservation of the only known complete skeleton of the bird that still exists today.
