READ: Back From Extinction— The Dire Wolf Walks Again
In a stunning leap of genetic science, biotechnology firm Colossal Biosciences has successfully brought back an animal long believed lost to time — the dire wolf, a prehistoric predator that last roamed North America over 10,000 years ago.
Known for its bold ambition to resurrect extinct species, Colossal is also behind efforts to revive the woolly mammoth by 2028. But this year, the company made headlines by revealing that not only had it cloned four endangered red wolves — it had also successfully engineered the birth of three living dire wolves.
AI image. Visit https://colossal.com/direwolf/ for dire wolf photos.
The revival began in Colossal’s Dallas laboratory, where geneticists, led by chief scientist Dr. Beth Shapiro, extracted ancient DNA from dire wolf fossils. They then used gray wolf DNA — already 99.5% identical to that of dire wolves — as a base. After editing several specific genes to match those of dire wolves, they implanted the altered cells into surrogate dogs. The process was completed without harming any animals, and the surrogate dogs were later adopted.
Three pups were born between late 2024 and early 2025. They were named:
Romulus and Remus – after Rome’s mythological founders
Khalesi – inspired by the dire wolf-loving heroine of Game of Thrones
All three now live on a protected 2,000-acre nature preserve at an undisclosed location.
The breakthrough has sparked scientific debate. While Colossal insists these animals look, act, and behave like dire wolves, some experts remain skeptical.
Paleontologist Dr. Julie Meachen, who co-authored a 2021 study showing dire wolves and gray wolves diverged millions of years ago, expressed caution: “I don’t think they are actually dire wolves... What we have is something new.”
Still, even Meachen acknowledges the achievement is impressive, and she continues collaborating with Shapiro on ongoing dire wolf research.
Beyond dire wolves, Colossal is investing in conservation initiatives. Its red wolf cloning program hopes to restore numbers of this critically endangered species — fewer than 20 remain in the wild. The state of North Dakota has partnered with Colossal in hopes of applying the same tech to preserve its struggling bison population.
CEO Ben Lamm says the company's goal is not nostalgia, but innovation: “We are trying to actually develop products and build technologies.”
Colossal's investors include major names like Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, Tiger Woods, and Peter Jackson.
Not everyone is convinced the benefits outweigh the risks. Dr. Robert Klitzman, a bioethicist at Columbia University, warns of unforeseen consequences: “You may produce a wolf that’s twice as ferocious… or a super rat that eats everything in sight.”
Still, he supports the effort — cautiously — if revived animals can thrive without harming ecosystems.
Colossal recently revealed the “woolly mouse”, a genetically modified mouse with thick fur, modeled after the mammoth — another preview of what’s to come. With the dire wolf now walking among us again, the line between past and present is blurring.
Dr. Shapiro sees inaction as its own gamble: “If we decide as a society that these new technologies... are too risky... that is a choice that also carries consequences.”
Whether miracle or misstep, the dire wolf's return marks a turning point in humanity’s relationship with extinction. The question now is: What do we do with that power?
