The successful resurrection of the dire wolf by Colossal Biosciences marks a pivotal moment in conservation science, demonstrating how ancient canid genetics can open new pathways for protecting endangered species today. This groundbreaking achievement not only brings a long-extinct predator back into existence but also provides valuable tools for preserving biodiversity in our rapidly changing world.
In April 2025, Colossal announced the birth of three dire wolf pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—created through a sophisticated process that began with DNA extracted from fossils up to 72,000 years old. By analyzing this ancient genetic material and comparing it with modern canid genomes, scientists identified specific genetic variants responsible for the dire wolf’s distinctive characteristics.
“Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies,” said Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. “This massive milestone demonstrates that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works.”
The technology developed for this achievement has immediate applications beyond de-extinction. Alongside the dire wolf announcement, Colossal revealed it had successfully cloned four red wolves—a species with fewer than 20 individuals remaining in the wild, making it North America’s most critically endangered canid.
What makes this development particularly significant is Colossal’s innovative approach to cloning. Rather than relying on invasive tissue sampling, scientists developed a technique using endothelial progenitor cells isolated from blood draws—a procedure that can be performed during routine veterinary care with minimal stress to the animal.
This method allowed researchers to create red wolf clones from genetic lineages distinct from those currently represented in the captive breeding population. By incorporating these clones into conservation efforts, Colossal could potentially increase the number of founding lineages by 25%, significantly enhancing the species’ genetic diversity
The connection between ancient dire wolves and modern conservation extends further through Colossal’s work with “ghost alleles”—genetic variations from red wolves that have persisted in hybrid populations along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana. By identifying these lost genetic elements in coyote-wolf hybrids, researchers can potentially recover genetic diversity thought to be permanently lost.
“In a world where humans are rapidly eroding the environment, species (especially wolves) need allies,” said Dr. Bridgett vonHoldt of Princeton University, who leads the Gulf Coast Canid Project. “We now have the technology that can edit DNA to increase resilience in species that are facing extinction or to revive extinct genetic diversity and species.”
This approach to conservation, which Colossal calls “genetic rescue,” represents a paradigm shift in how we might address biodiversity loss. Rather than simply protecting remaining individuals of endangered species, genetic rescue seeks to enhance their adaptability and resilience through targeted genetic interventions.
According to Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer: “If we want a future that is both bionumerous and filled with people, we should be giving ourselves the opportunity to see what our big brains can do to reverse some of the bad things that we’ve done to the world already.”
The technologies pioneered through the dire wolf project could have wide-ranging applications, from saving critically endangered species to helping others adapt to changing environmental conditions. Colossal is already exploring similar approaches for the northern quoll, a small marsupial native to Australia that’s threatened by invasive cane toads.
By identifying a single genetic modification that could confer resistance to cane toad toxin, researchers hope to enhance the quoll’s ability to survive in landscapes where these invasive amphibians are present—a genetic intervention that could potentially save the species from extinction.
Through their pioneering work with dire wolves and other species, Ben Lamm and his team at Colossal Biosciences are demonstrating that ancient genetics holds the key not just to resurrecting the past but to preserving the future of biodiversity on our planet. As climate change and habitat loss continue to threaten countless species, these innovative approaches to conservation could not come at a more critical time.