Scientists Bring Back the Dire Wolf After Nearly 13,000 Years

After nearly 13,000 years of extinction, scientists have found a way to de-extinct the exceptional dire wolf. By using ancient, preserved dire wolf DNA and combining it with that of the existing gray wolf, Colossal Biosciences has successfully brought an animal back into existence. The pup’s names are Remus (6 months), Romulus (6 months), and Khaleesi (2 months). Their surrogate mothers are domestic dogs that each gave birth to one pup. What do scientists plan to do with the knowledge and success they have gained from this experiment? What will come of the pups as they continue to grow?

The Dire Wolf – Over 10,000 Years Ago

The prehistoric predator was similar in size and behavior to that of today’s gray wolf, Yukon wolf, and the northwestern wolf. Its remains have been found for centuries, but they are believed to have gone extinct between 10,000 to 13,000 years ago. Its teeth were larger than modern-day wolves, and they had a bite force that outdoes any animal in the Canis species. The animal is believed to have preyed upon horses, ground sloths, mastodons, ancient bison, and camels. When many of the Earth’s megaherbivores (their prey) became extinct, the dire wolf was quick to follow.

The dire wolf’s remains have been found throughout North and South America, indicating that they existed in widespread areas. However, there are differing opinions about where they lived and evolved. One theory based on fossil morphology suggests that the animal is a result of the expansion of the genus Canis out of Eurasia. The other theory agrees that they evolved in the Americas, but DNA evidence indicates that the animal is not a part of the genus Canis.

The Process of Bringing Back the Dire Wolf

For years, scientists have worked to re-create extinct animals using DNA and information gained from fossilized bones and other parts of extinct animals. Before attempting the de-extinction of the dire wolf, they first copied mammoth DNA to create what they called a woolly mouse. The rodent had a long golden coat of fur and the same fast metabolism rate as a woolly mammoth. With that surprising success, the scientists and Colossal Biosciences took it to the next level and began working on the production of the dire wolf by rewriting the genetic code of the common gray wolf. Domestic female dogs carried the wolves until birth without any instance of miscarriage or stillbirth.

“We elected to put both pups with the surrogate who was displaying the best maternal instincts,” says Matt James, the company’s chief animal officer. “That reintroduction occurred just about two or so hours after birth, and she immediately began caring for them and allowing them to nurse.”

They do not plan to stop there. There are plans to bring back other animals, such as the Dodo bird, woolly mammoth, and Tasmanian tiger (Thylacine).

Remus, Romulus, and Khaleesi

The three pups that contain the DNA of the extinct dire wolf are growing and thriving. They are playful puppies much as one would expect. However, there is a difference between the three dire wolf puppies and other more traditional pups. The wolves do not care to be around humans. Even the caretakers who have been around the pups since birth get no special treatment from the animals. They tend to retreat from any human interaction whatsoever.

Regardless of their human-to-wolf behaviors, the pups are thriving. At just six months old, the males Remus and Romulus are already nearly four feet long and weigh 80 pounds. They are expected to reach a length of six feet and a weight of 150 pounds. Away from humans, their behavior is very puppy-like.

It will be interesting to see what happens as de-extinction continues to bring back animals that humans today have never seen. The three dire wolf pups’ activities will be closely monitored. The potential for reproduction without the assistance of scientists in a lab remains to be seen. Do you think the animals will continue to reproduce and once again exist in large numbers on Earth? Only time will tell.

1. Scientists have brought to life the extinct dire wolf.
2. The dire wolf’s remains have been found throughout North and South America.
3. The last sighting of the dire wolf was 13,000 years ago.