Johann Hunt
Have you ever imagined ancient creatures walking among us like it’s Jurassic Park? Many scientists have been trying to bring back some of those extinct birds and animals. If you’re curious why and how they’ve been doing it, here are the revival stories of 20 vanished creatures.
Woolly Mammoth
Is it possible to see a herd of woolly mammoths striding across the Arctic tundra again? Researchers at Colossal Biosciences (CB) are tweaking Asian elephant genes to make that happen. They hope to reintroduce them into the Arctic by 2028 to help with climate change. Their return could restore ecosystems and even combat global warming by improving carbon capture.
Dodo
The dodo is probably the most famous extinct creature. If it comes back, the bird could help restore its native ecosystem by bringing a much-needed balance to the island. Dodos disappeared due to overhunting in the 17th century, but CB scientists are working to bring this quirky bird back by using preserved DNA. The team is aiming for a reintroduction to Mauritius.
Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine)
Another revival is happening at the Colossal Biosciences (in collaboration with the University of Melbourne), Australia. The thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, was once a top predator in Australia’s wilderness before going extinct in 1936. If the thylacine is back in Tasmania’s wilds, it can keep other animal populations in check.
Passenger Pigeon
North America’s most abundant bird vanished after relentless hunting and habitat loss. With the help of the band-tailed pigeon’s DNA, Revive & Restore is leading efforts to bring back the passenger pigeon. They want to reintroduce the birds into Eastern forests to help with seed dispersal and reforestation.
Pyrenean Ibex
In 2003, a Pyrenean ibex clone briefly walked the Earth before passing away only minutes later. Now, researchers at the INRAE in Paris are refining the old cloning techniques to give this mountain goat another shot at survival. A successful revival could bring back the ibex to Spain’s highlands. Who knows, the 21st century might hold its rebirth.
Steller’s Sea Cow
The Russian Academy of Sciences is analyzing DNA from this cow’s closest relatives, the dugongs. They aim to bring back those sea cows because they can restore seagrass ecosystems, which are vital to marine biodiversity. Steller’s sea cows can also bring balance to the underwater world. This was a huge herbivore in Arctic waters until 1768.
Quagga
Have you ever seen an animal that’s half zebra and half horse? Not yet, because the quagga vanished from the plains of South Africa in the 19th century. The Quagga Project in Cape Town is working to resurrect this creature back through the selective breeding of zebras. While it won’t be the same quagga, it’s the closest relative we would get.
Giant Tortoises Of The Galápagos
The Galápagos islands in Ecuador had giant tortoises that helped maintain the islands’ ecosystem. If the Galápagos Conservatory is successful in bringing them back, these tortoises could restore plant diversity and help the ecosystem bounce back from decades of damage. It could save the entire island.
Gastric-Brooding Frog
Reviving the gastric-brooding frog could offer groundbreaking insights into amphibian conservation and reproductive biology. The gastric-brooding frog was one of the most bizarre creatures to ever hop around, and it was capable of incubating its eggs in its stomach! Sadly, it went extinct in the 1980s, but now, the University of New South Wales has other plans.
Mastodon
The mastodon—essentially a cousin of the mammoth—roamed North America until around 10,000 years ago. Their long tusks and shaggy coats could once again tread the tundra. If the resurrection plans at CB work out, it could offer a new way of understanding Ice Age ecosystems and modern-day conservation efforts.
Elephant Birds
In Madagascar, elephant birds were among the largest birds—standing up to 10 feet tall. They were flightless birds that also disappeared around 1,000 years ago. By using DNA extracted from ancient eggs, scientists are working to reintroduce them so they can help stabilize the fragile ecosystem of Madagascar.
Irish Elk
Irish elks, with their incredible antlers, once roamed the forests of Europe and Asia. The return of these animals could help restore multiple ecosystems across Europe and inspire further efforts to protect the species that remain. They went extinct about 7,700 years ago, but today, geneticists at various institutions are studying their DNA and hoping for success.
Moa
Moas couldn’t fly either, but they stood even taller—up to 12 feet tall! Scientists in New Zealand are using ancient fossils and cloning to restore them. Overhunting was the reason they were gone. A return would mean the native forests of New Zealand can be restored because the huge herbivore birds played a critical role in plant life and seed dispersal.
Cave Bears
What’s going on at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology? The German institute is trying to revive cave bears, which roamed through Europe and Asia around 24,000 years ago. Researchers are studying preserved bones with intact DNA to explore the possibility of breathing life back into those bears.
Carolina Parakeet
Once the only parrot species native to the US, the Carolina parakeet vanished by 1918. Hopefully, the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute could allow us to see this colorful bird again. By studying preserved DNA, the Smithsonian team wants to reintroduce the parakeet so it can help with the pollination services in the southeastern US.
Saber-Toothed Cat
Saber-toothed cats were one of the most iconic predators of the Ice Age. For centuries, they have fascinated scientists and cultures all around the world. Even modern movies feature them. Today, saber-tooths would provide intriguing insights into ancient predator-prey relationships and their role in those ancient ecosystems.
Heath Hen
There was an abundance of Heath Hens in the US until they disappeared in 1932. The reason was habitat loss and hunting. Conservationists at the Revive & Restore are pushing the limits of de-extinction technology to bring this hen back, and new heath hens would balance grasslands—a hopeful sign for the land.
Great Auk
The great auk was a seabird that lived in the North Atlantic. Unfortunately, this flightless bird was hunted to extinction by 1844. But now, using preserved specimens and advanced cloning techniques, scientists at the University of Copenhagen are bringing this penguin-like bird back. This project may not just resurrect a bird; it could restore entire ecosystems along the coasts.
Hybrids in Pleistocene Park
Pleistocene Park is one of the most ambitious projects of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They are working to recreate the Ice Age environment using hybrid species like mammoth-like animals that could restore ancient plains and fight climate change. If they successfully mimic the conditions of the Ice Age, it could shape the future of conservation.
Giant Short-Faced Bear
Imagine a huge bear standing up to 12 feet tall on its hind legs with a height of 5 feet at the shoulders. Now, think of a small face. This weird bear was an efficient runner that reached speeds of 30 to 40 miles per hour. Even though it was extinct 11,000 years ago, CB scientists are trying for a breakthrough using gene editing.