Scientists Take Groundbreaking Step Toward Reviving the Dodo After 300 Years: What It Means for Conservation

Since the dodo went extinct in the 17th century, it has become an emblem of extinction. However, a Texas-based company, Colossal Biosciences, has announced significant strides in what they call “de-extinction.” They recently created pigeon primordial germ cells, a key step in reviving the dodo, which is related to pigeons.

Colossal has previously made headlines for plans to bring back woolly mammoths and dire wolves. They’ve developed genetically altered chickens that could serve as surrogates for dodos. By injecting these chickens with primordial germ cells from the Nicobar pigeon, which is the dodo’s closest living relative, they hope to recreate the dodo’s unique features.

Ben Lamm, Colossal’s CEO, suggests that a dodo revival could be around five to seven years away. The company is also working with wildlife organizations to find safe habitats in Mauritius for the reintroduced birds. Their ambition is to create thousands of genetically diverse dodos that can thrive in the wild.

Historically, dodos roamed the forests of Mauritius without natural predators until humans arrived. The species faced heavy hunting and habitat loss due to invasive species like rats and pigs. The last confirmed sighting of a dodo was in 1662, when a Dutch sailor described it as resembling a “very big goose.”

Colossal uses CRISPR gene-editing technology to guide this process. Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s scientific chief, emphasizes that this will be a careful and gradual process. “We don’t know all the impacts of bringing a large ground-dwelling fruit-eating bird back to its habitat, but we expect some positive surprises,” she said.

Nonetheless, not all experts are on board. Leonardo Campagna, an evolutionary biologist at Cornell, cautions about the complex nature of recreating a dodo. He points out that understanding its genetic makeup and behaviors is challenging. “We know so little, and it’s uncertain whether what we create will truly resemble the original dodo.”

Currently, around 2 million species face extinction, driven by habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution. The extinction rate is now estimated to be hundreds of times faster than historical averages.

While Colossal believes its technology can aid conservation efforts, critics like Rich Grenyer from the University of Oxford warn that pursuing de-extinction might distract from urgent environmental issues. He argues that calling genetically modified animals “extinct” might legitimize the very behaviors that lead to extinction in the first place.

Colossal continues to gain attention, securing an additional $120 million in funding, which raises its valuation to $10.2 billion. Celebrity backers include Tom Brady and Paris Hilton. Lamm aims for their work to inspire interest in science while addressing biodiversity.

As Colossal moves forward, the debate around de-extinction—its ethics, challenges, and implications—continues to grow. Would recreating the dodo help or hinder conservation efforts? Only time will tell.



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