In a stunning leap for science and biotechnology, U.S.-based Colossal Biosciences announced on April 7, 2025, that it has successfully cloned three dire wolves — a species that went extinct over 10,000 years ago. The announcement, covered by outlets like Reuters and Time Magazine, marks the first-ever genetic resurrection of an Ice Age predator using advanced genome editing and cloning techniques.
The Return of a Legend
Colossal Biosciences
Dire wolves, scientifically known as Aenocyon dirus, were apex predators during the last Ice Age. They roamed across North and South America for thousands of years before disappearing from the fossil record around the end of the Pleistocene epoch. Larger and more robust than today’s gray wolves, they were built to hunt large prey like bison and mammoths.
Fast forward to 2025: the species once thought lost to extinction is now alive in the form of three cloned pups — Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi — bred and raised in a high-security sanctuary. These pups already display the signature traits of their ancient ancestors: thick coats, massive builds, and powerful jaws. By six months old, the male pups weigh around 80 pounds and measure nearly four feet in length, on track to match the size of their Ice Age counterparts.
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How They Did It: Ancient DNA and Cutting-Edge Genetics
So how exactly does one bring back a creature lost for millennia? Colossal Biosciences combined ancient DNA analysis, CRISPR gene editing, and advanced cloning methods.
It began with sequencing DNA from dire wolf fossils — specifically a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. After mapping the genome and identifying 15 key genetic variants unique to dire wolves, scientists used CRISPR to edit these traits into the DNA of living gray wolf cells. The modifications impacted 14 different genes related to fur texture, body size, skull structure, and more.
The altered cells were then used to create embryos, which were implanted into domestic dog surrogates. The result? Three healthy, living pups with genetic blueprints almost identical to those of a dire wolf.
A Scientific First in De-Extinction
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While the idea of de-extinction has long fascinated scientists and the public alike, this marks the first time a mammalian species has been recreated with such accuracy and success. Colossal’s achievement is being called a true milestone in synthetic biology — and the world’s first example of a functional, living de-extincted animal.
Importantly, these dire wolves are not just close approximations; they are the result of precise genome engineering aimed at restoring the actual species. According to Colossal, the 20 genetic edits made during this process represent a record in the field of gene editing.
Who Is Colossal Biosciences?
Colossal Biosciences is a Texas-based biotech startup founded in 2021 by tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm and Harvard geneticist Dr. George Church. The company’s bold mission is to “de-extinct” lost species while applying these technologies to help conserve endangered ones.
Before the dire wolf breakthrough, Colossal made headlines with its woolly mammoth project — an attempt to bring back the mammoth by editing the genes of Asian elephants to withstand Arctic climates. Other projects on their roadmap include the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and the dodo bird.
Each of these efforts is rooted in conservation science. The tools being developed for de-extinction — like advanced cloning and genome repair — are already being used to help preserve genetic diversity in endangered species such as the red wolf.
What’s Next for the Cloned Dire Wolves?
For now, Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi are being raised in a secure wildlife sanctuary. The goal isn’t to release them into the wild anytime soon, but rather to study their health, behavior, and biology. Their existence will help scientists understand more about long-extinct ecosystems and how we might use biotechnology to preserve life in the modern age.
Interestingly, handlers have noted unique behaviors in the pups — including an eerie howl that researchers say hasn’t echoed across Earth in over ten millennia.
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A New Era of Life Sciences
Colossal’s dire wolf cloning project opens a new chapter in biotechnology and genetic science. It shows that with the right tools, we can not only understand the past but also bring parts of it back to life. While ethical and ecological questions remain, one thing is clear: the boundaries of what’s possible in genetic science are expanding at an astonishing pace.
We are now living in an era where extinction may not mean forever. With dire wolves once again walking the Earth, the door is open for even greater breakthroughs in the years to come.
