GUWAHATI: Scientists have successfully revived the dire wolf, a species which had gone extinct nearly 12,500 years ago. The first animals to be resurrected through genetic engineering, two male dire wolf pups named Romulus and Remus were born on October 1, 2024, using ancient DNA, cloning and gene editing.
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“The dire wolf, lost to history over 10,000 years ago, has returned,” Texas-based biotechnology firm Colossal Biosciences made the announcement on Monday, April 7. Known for working on de-extinction technologies, the company revealed that the pups, now six months old, measure nearly four feet in length and weigh over 36 kg. A third pup, a female named as Khaleesi, was also born later on January 30.
Romulus | @colossal on X
The company has revealed that the dire wolf was recreated using DNA extracted from fossilised remains, including a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. Genetic material from the grey wolf, its closest living relative, was used to fill in gaps during the process. The dire wolf, once a dominant predator in prehistoric North America, was known to be larger than modern wolves, with thicker fur and a more powerful jaw.
The pups are currently housed in a 2,000-acre high-security site at an undisclosed location, surrounded by 10-foot-tall fencing and monitored by drones, live feeds, and security staff. After initial feeding from a surrogate, the pups were bottle-fed by the team.
However, despite their healthy physical condition, their behaviour has drawn attention. Unlike modern wolf species, they show no puppy-like excitement around humans and tend to retreat when approached.
Remus | @colossal on X
Scientists say this reserved behaviour aligns with what is understood about the extinct species' disposition. Romulus and Remus have even maintained distance from their primary handler, indicating that the traits may be deeply encoded in their DNA.
Elon Musk, meanwhile, reacted to the news by posting his own wishlist. “Please make a miniature pet wooly mammoth,” he shared on X.
Relatedly, the dire wolf was also made popular in entertainment form by the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones.’