Yes, we can bring them back ... but should we?

Imagine being able to check off a dodo on your birding checklist. Impossible, right? This strange-looking flightless bird, extinct since 1681 due to deforestation, hunting and invasive species, symbolizes the tragedy of biodiversity loss. However, advances in biotechnology are transforming the impossible into the plausible, with the prospect of resurrecting extinct species like the dodo. The concept gained widespread attention through Jurassic Park, which introduced audiences to the idea of reviving extinct animals — dinosaurs, in this case — through genetic engineering. While resurrecting dinosaurs remains improbable due to their extinction over 65 million years ago and the lack of viable DNA, the story is different for more recently extinct species. Animals like the dodo, the woolly mammoth and the Tasmanian tiger, which disappeared within the past few thousand years, are now within the realm of possibility. I recently listened to the Making Sense podcast where writer, philosopher and neuroscientist Sam Harris discussed "Bringing Back the Mammoth" with Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal Biosciences. Alongside George Church, a geneticist from Harvard Medical School, Lamm envisions Colossal as the world's first "de-extinction and species preservation company." Their mission is to not only revive extinct species but also use biotechnology to combat the alarming trends of biodiversity loss. According to updated data, humanity risks losing up to 50 percent of Earth's biodiversity by 2050 without significant intervention. The trends of biodiversity loss are disturbing. "We're clearly in the middle of an extinction crisis. And it's our responsibility to bring stories and to bring excitement to people in a way that motivates them to think about the extinction crisis that's going on right now," said Beth Shapiro, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and lead paleogeneticist at Colossal Biosciences Santa Cruz, in a 2023 interview with CNN. Colossal aims to develop tools and technologies to revive lost species and share these innovations to aid conservation efforts worldwide. As Lamm explained, these advancements could even have direct applications for human healthcare. Their focus includes species such as the woolly mammoth (extinct about 4,000 years ago), the Tasmanian tiger (extinct since 1936), and the dodo. The science behind de-extinction is fascinating but complex. Beyond the lab, the reintroduction of any species demands as much effort as the science itself. It requires coordination between indigenous groups, private landowners, governments, ecologists, conservation organizations and the public at large. Working groups would need to be established in every country involved to ensure successful reintegration into ecosystems. Each species comes with unique challenges. The Tasmanian tiger, for instance, was an apex predator in Australia but became a target when farmers believed they were preying on sheep (Tasmanian tigers are carnivorous marsupials). A mislaid bounty was placed on the species, leading to its extinction (it seems now that farmers were actually killing each other's sheep). Reintroducing such a predator into modern ecosystems would require extensive study and careful management to avoid conflict with native species and human interests. Bringing back a species is a complex and serious endeavor — it is not like bringing back Dexter or Chi-Chi's (both which are very exciting!). Despite the excitement, there are profound ethical and practical concerns. For instance, is it "righting a wrong" to bring back species driven to extinction by human activity? Or does this capability create a moral hazard, where some might care less about conserving species if they can simply be resurrected later? For example, why not let hunters kill endangered species if we can simply create more at will later? Furthermore, the introduction of these animals into modern ecosystems raises questions about ecological balance, cultural impacts and regulations. What safeguards would ensure these species thrive without becoming mere spectacles — or targets for sport hunting? I imagine a lot of hunters would love to add a wholly mammoth to his or her list of conquests. Even more troubling are the scientific challenges. What is the failure rate for creating these animals, and how much suffering or deformity might result from experimentation? Could this lead to a slippery slope, where hybrid or engineered animals are designed for profit or prestige? Then there's the philosophical question of "playing God," although we are well past that in many areas. Should extinction and speciation remain natural processes, or is it ethical to manipulate them for human purposes? Many argue that the enormous cost might be better spent protecting the species currently at risk rather than resurrecting those already lost. Colossal believes it could achieve its first de-extinction by 2028, or at least by the end of the decade. Beyond the immediate goal of reviving extinct species, they assert that the breakthroughs in genetic engineering could have profound benefits for conservation and humanity alike. The company suggests many multimillion dollar commercial uses for its technology, not just in healthcare and conservation, but also in government and education. The conservation perspective involves looking at the animals and their value differently, "There is a much more valuable way to keep the animals and have them thrive in their natural environment rather than to hunt or sell their data to poachers. We are starting to see that transition in Gabon where people used to sell data of forest elephants to poachers so they could make money for their village, now they are seeing that there is actually a value in these animals in protecting them and keeping them alive," Lamm said. While the promise of de-extinction stirs imagination and hope, it also demands careful consideration of the ethical, ecological and practical ramifications. Beyond the wholly mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger, what else is on the horizon? Black River Audubon January Program Marne Tichenell will present "Bats: What You Didn't Learn Watching Batman" at Carlisle Reservation Visitor Center on Jan. 7. Tichenell, Extension Wildlife Program Director for the Ohio State University, as she discusses the lives of Ohio bats and dispels common myths. She will discuss the unique ecology of bats, threats to their populations, and what folks can do to help Ohio's bat populations.