Did you know the U.S. is investing $20 billion to protect and restore wildlife habitat, aiming for 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050?1 This investment could even help reintroduce some recently extinct species!
Scientists are primarily focusing on resurrecting recently extinct creatures because their DNA, preserved within the last few centuries, is more likely to be intact, making the de-extinction process more feasible.
Here are 15 species that are deemed to make a comeback.
1. Woolly Mammoth
These iconic Ice Age giants are prime candidates for de-extinction, with well-preserved specimens found in permafrost and their genome already sequenced. Bringing back mammoths could potentially restore lost ecosystems and combat climate change.
2. Tasmanian Tiger
This unique marsupial predator was hunted to extinction in the 20th century. Recent advances in genetic engineering have sparked hope for its revival, potentially bringing back a fascinating and ecologically important species.
3. Passenger Pigeon
Once the most abundant bird in North America, these birds went extinct due to overhunting and habitat loss. Their de-extinction could have significant benefits for forest ecosystems and seed dispersal.
4. Pyrenean Ibex
This wild goat species went extinct in 2000, but scientists briefly brought it back through cloning in 2003. While the cloned ibex died shortly after birth, this experiment proved the feasibility of de-extinction for recently extinct species (ref).
5. Dodo Bird
This flightless bird, famous for its naive nature, was wiped out by humans shortly after its discovery on Mauritius. De-extinction efforts are underway, aiming to restore this iconic symbol of human-caused extinction.
6. Quagga
A subspecies of zebra with distinct stripes, the quagga was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Selective breeding programs are attempting to recreate the quagga’s unique appearance and ecological role.
7. Heath Hen
This grouse species once thrived in northeastern North America but went extinct due to habitat loss and overhunting. Ongoing conservation efforts are exploring the possibility of resurrecting this bird through genetic manipulation.
8. Aurochs
The ancestor of modern cattle, the aurochs was a massive wild bovine that roamed Europe and Asia. Rewilding projects aim to recreate this majestic species through back-breeding programs, potentially benefiting ecosystems and biodiversity.
9. Carolina Parakeet
This colorful bird was once found in the southeastern United States, but habitat destruction and hunting led to its extinction. Scientists are exploring de-extinction possibilities to bring back this charismatic avian species.
10. Gastric-brooding Frog
This unique frog swallowed its eggs and gave birth through its mouth. Extinct since the 1980s, scientists are working on cloning this species to study its remarkable reproductive behavior and potentially benefit medical research.
11. Great Auk
This flightless bird, resembling a penguin, was hunted to extinction in the 19th century. Genetic material from preserved specimens offers hope for its potential revival, restoring a unique ecological niche in the North Atlantic.
12. Irish Elk
The Irish Elk was the largest deer species that ever existed and vanished thousands of years ago. With well-preserved DNA samples, scientists believe it might be possible to bring back this magnificent creature through genetic engineering.
13. Moa
These giant flightless birds were endemic to New Zealand and played a crucial role in their ecosystem. Their extinction, caused by human arrival, could be reversed through de-extinction efforts, restoring balance to the island’s ecology.
14. Steller’s Sea Cow
This massive marine mammal, related to dugongs, was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. Recent discoveries of well-preserved DNA have sparked interest in bringing back this gentle giant to the North Pacific.
15. Xerces Blue Butterfly
This delicate butterfly once inhabited coastal dunes in San Francisco but went extinct due to habitat loss. Efforts are underway to revive this species through captive breeding and genetic manipulation, promoting biodiversity conservation.
As scientists continue to refine de-extinction techniques, society should engage in open and informed discussions about the future of this groundbreaking field. The fate of these 15 extinct creatures and countless others may ultimately rest in our hands. Will we choose to resurrect them and rewrite the story of life on Earth? Only time will tell.
Source:
- https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/biodiversity/elements_of_biodiversity/extinction_crisis/pdfs/Saving-Life-On-Earth.pdf
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.