Dire Wolf Skeleton - Cropped Image - Salt Lake City Natural History Museum
April 14, 2025
Over a week ago, there were numerous stories reporting on the “de-extinction” of the dire wolf. This isn’t true as the above article points out that these so called “Dire Wolves” are actually gray wolf genes being genetically modified to be more “dire wolf like".
While on one hand, it would be awesome to bring back extinct species (assuming we had intact ecosystems and biological processes to support them), it would be far better if we insured that species never went extinct in the first place.
That we maintained intact ecosystems, that preserved biodiversity and natural predator/prey relationships. That we valued all biological components from the smallest to largest within an ecosystems in flora, fauna and insects as well.
That our understanding, compassion, tolerance and acceptance extends to all life forms, not just the most majestic or charismatic.
There are few if any places in the United States where gray wolves enjoy complete protection. Even in Denali National Park (or Yellowstone), they are not fully protected in Denali's Preserve and certainly not on the state lands adjacent to the park.
Sampling of Questions:
Shouldn’t we insure the protection of wildlife we currently have before we try to return extinct species?
And while science may always push the boundaries of what is possible, it seldom asks if it should return a species? What kind of life would that species have if returned?
What would the purpose of returning a species be? Would it be for our own curiosity and/or entertainment/profit? Or, would it be to return a species fully to an ecosystem that is suitable for it?
And behaviorally, how would a dire wolf pup learn to be a dire wolf? Even if it was raised by gray wolves, it would learn gray wolf behaviors; not dire wolf behaviors.
Plus, the large species of wildlife that dire wolves preyed upon during the Pleistocene no longer exists. Could it survive “and thrive” on the current large prey base that would be available to it? And what about any issues between dire wolves and livestock? How would that be resolved when it hasn’t been resolved with gray wolves and other predators (even though these conflicts are minimal)?
Would returned dire wolves be condemned to a life within an elaborate zoo (ala Jurassic Park)? Or, would they have free rein to move about an ecosystem that they were introduced to? What protections would be extended to them? If we can’t completely protect gray wolves now, how could we protect dire wolves?
What political and social forces would rise up against such a proposal and how would we alleviate that opposition?
Personally, I would love to see and photograph a T-Rex thundering across the Utah landscape (it would certainly provide more motivation to increase my mountain bike skills), yet there would be many considerations that would have to be addressed, assuming this could ever be a possibility.
Extinction
Extinction caused by humans is a fundamental failure in our stewardship of this planet. This recognition and responsibility to reverse it needs to be front and center of conservation and any de-extinction efforts.
While the thought and ability to bring back a species from extinction through genetic manipulation may provide a scientific sugar rush, it in no way replaces fully functioning ecosystems and all of their components.
It can further be used as justification by nefarious and destructive individuals/organizations to advance extinction for economic gain and then bring back species when and “If”……..we wish to (of course, this is unlikely to happen if it interferes with economic gain). There is already a push to do away with the Endangered Species Act using genetic manipulation and return of species as an excuse.
This point of view completely ignores the need for functioning ecosystems that all species are dependent upon; including us. It is a rapacious point of view that puts the greed of the few first and foremost and everyone else; especially wildlife and ecosystems……last.
It advances the desires of the billionaire class that is willing to sacrifice all that is good and wondrous even if it leads to ecosystem domestication, degradation, eradication and extinction on an even wider scale.
In that respect, having such a scientific off ramp for our stewardship allows us to dodge our fundamental responsibilities to all life forms on this planet.
Genetic manipulation should be viewed as a tool, one that can be used for positive or negative outcomes depending on it’s interpretation, purpose, it’s implementation and who is wielding it.
Anytime it used as justification for the expansion of economic greed and the destruction of wildlife and ecosystems it should be resisted intensely.
A question for Colossal Bioscience (the company responsible for the dire wolf claims) is this: what specific conservation efforts have they made to preserve current species and fully intact ecosystems? What have they done to preserve gray wolves in the Lower 48, Canada and Alaska?
What have they done to protect grizzly bears, wolverine, mountain lions, lynx and other predators? Or, what have they done to preserve any other species and ecosystems in the world?
One should judge the true intentions of a company by its actions such as: distorting science, hyping false claims, and spreading misinformation. All of these actions help to demonstrate the character of any company.
These questions (and more) are meant to give insights into any corporation and whether they truly are interested in preserving current species and ecosystems. After all, you can’t re-wild an ecosystem with dire wolves and mammoths if it has been completely transformed and destroyed through development.
And if a dire wolf (or any other primordial species) isn't genetically identical to its extinct originator, then how close genetically and behaviorally is close enough to justify returning a species?
A copy of an original is not the original. It is still a copy or facsimile.
Lets use a $100 counterfeit bill as an example:
A $100 counterfeit bill may look like an original, may fool most people, but it is not an original and in actuality is worthless. Its value is predicated on fooling people into thinking it is an original that has value.
Likewise, a copy or facsimile of an extinct species isn't identical to that extinct species.
There are allot of moral and ethical questions that should be answered first before genetic engineering becomes more common place. The first and foremost priority is to insure that no species and their habitat goes extinct due to……us……ever.
That is the ultimate challenge.
Where should our priorities lie? I believe that our priorities should be focused on the species that are still living. It is these species that is our primary responsibility to preserve and save. This should be combined with preserving intact and fully functioning ecosystems.
Re-wildling suitable habitat is no less important as is the returning of predator species to their former habitats. This would not only be dependent on suitable habitats but also on public support. Massive and factually based educational efforts would be needed to achieve this.
This alone will provide massive challenges to meet. The Colorado wolf reintroduction alone is a perfect example of the challenges we face in returning wolves, much less grizzlies to their former habitats.
Genetic engineering could potentially help critically endangered wildlife such as red wolves who need our help to avoid extinction.
In the end, it comes down to an individual and societal choice: do we wish to extend compassion, understanding, tolerance and empathy towards all other species regardless of the challenges that they may pose? Or, don’t we?
The creation of our National Parks and other protected areas are the greatest examples of these finer qualities. We can successfully live with wildlife when we choose to. They can enhance our every day lives when we see or hear them and/or just know that they exist in today’s current world.
We don’t have to return to the primordial past to witness these wonders, they are all around us.
Links:
Dire Wolf Back From Extinction! Or Not?
Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage