In a scientific milestone that sounds more like science fiction, Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences has announced the birth of three dire wolves—marking the first successful de-extinction of an animal in history.
The once-extinct dire wolf, which disappeared more than 12,500 years ago, has been brought back to life through pioneering genetic engineering and cloning. Known popularly from HBO’s Game of Thrones, the dire wolf was in fact a real species—an ancient American canid now reborn in the 21st century.
Colossal Biosciences, the world’s only company focused exclusively on de-extinction, hailed the event as a turning point for science and conservation. “This massive milestone is the first of many coming examples demonstrating that our end-to-end de-extinction technology stack works,” said Colossal CEO Ben Lamm in a press release. “Our team took DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull and made healthy dire wolf puppies”
The three new wolves—named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi—represent a breakthrough in gene editing. According to the company, scientists performed 20 unique precision germline edits, including 15 from ancient gene variants, setting a new benchmark in animal biotechnology.
In addition to the dire wolves, Colossal announced the birth of two litters of cloned red wolves, the most critically endangered wolf species in the world. These pups—named Hope, Blaze, Cinder, and Ash—were cloned using a non-invasive blood-based cloning method. This achievement strengthens the company’s conservation goals by combining de-extinction with the support of living endangered species.
Harvard geneticist and Colossal co-founder Dr. George Church emphasized the broader scientific importance: “The dire wolf is an early example of this, including the largest number of precise genomic edits in a healthy vertebrate so far. A capability that is growing exponentially”
The wolves are now thriving in a secure, 2,000+ acre preserve that includes live monitoring, veterinary facilities, and habitats designed to mimic their natural environments. The preserve is certified by the American Humane Society according to the organization’s press release.
“Colossal has achieved American Humane Society Certification, the prestigious designation ensuring excellence in animal welfare and care,” said Robin Ganzert, Ph.D., CEO of the American Humane Society. “The technology they are pursuing may be the key to reversing the sixth mass extinction” (Colossal Biosciences).
Looking ahead, Colossal plans to expand its efforts with eventual rewilding projects in expansive preserves, including on Indigenous lands. MHA Nation Tribal Chairman Mark Fox praised the company’s efforts, saying, “The dire wolf carries the echoes of our ancestors… The work of the team at Colossal Biosciences is not only significant to our lands and people, but for conservation efforts across the globe”