Tue Apr 08 17:01:09 UTC 2025: ## Extinct Dire Wolves Revived by Scientists

**Austin, TX –** In a groundbreaking scientific achievement, Colossal Biosciences has successfully resurrected the extinct dire wolf, a species that vanished nearly 12,500 years ago. Three dire wolf pups, two males (Romulus and Remus, born October 1, 2024) and one female (born January 30, 2025), are thriving at a secure, undisclosed location.

The Texas-based company utilized a combination of ancient DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull, cloning, and gene editing techniques, leveraging the genetic material of the gray wolf, the dire wolf’s closest living relative. The six-month-old pups already weigh over 36 kg and measure nearly four feet in length.

Co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm hailed the achievement as a “massive milestone,” demonstrating the effectiveness of Colossal’s de-extinction technology. Co-founder George Church, a professor of genetics at Harvard and MIT, described the cloning efficiency as a “game changer.”

While physically healthy, the pups exhibit unusual behavior. Unlike typical wolf pups, Romulus, Remus and their sister display a marked aversion to human interaction, maintaining a distance and exhibiting apprehension even around their handlers. This behavior, according to Colossal, aligns with the believed solitary nature of dire wolves.

The resurrected dire wolves currently reside on a 2,000-acre site secured by 10-foot fencing, constant drone surveillance, and live camera feeds. Colossal plans to continue its de-extinction efforts, with projects targeting the woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger also underway. The news has sparked significant interest, including a response from Elon Musk on X, expressing a desire for miniature pet woolly mammoths.

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