by Tanya Chang

The idea of bringing back woolly mammoths or passenger pigeons sounds like something straight out of a science fiction movie. But what if I told you that soon this is going to become our reality? Colossal Biosciences has raised hundreds of millions of dollars, promising “de-extinction,” claiming it can restore ecosystems or even slow down climate change. The thought of Ice Age giants roaming the tundra is exciting, but the resources used to chase the past could be better spent protecting the future. Instead of pouring money into recreating species that have been gone for centuries, we should redirect those funds toward saving the countless animals today that are already on the brink of extinction.

De-extinction is not actually possible yet because the technology to bring back extinct species simply does not exist. Since the ancient DNA is too fragmented to fix as a whole, scientists suggest that any “mammoth” or “dodo” we see would be a genetically engineered substitute—a modified elephant or pigeon at best. These animals may resemble characters of the extinct species, but genetically, they are not the same.

Even if the science worked adequately, there are immense ecological risks; the habitats that these animals used to flourish in can drastically change conditions. The releasing of the dodo bird on Mauritius today would result in the bird encounter with. If the scientist released the dodo bird on Mauritius today, it would encounter invasive predators and destroy forests. Scientists placing mammoths in the Arctic would face climates that are drastically different from those of the Ice Age. Instead of helping, de-extinction would most likely hurt the ecosystem.

The biggest issue, however, is funding. De-extinction projects have already received hundreds of millions of dollars, with no visible effect. If the funding Colossal Biosciences received were directed toward protecting endangered species, a tangible impact can be made. Poachers are killing elephants for ivory at alarming rates, orangutans are losing their rainforests due to palm oil plantations, and ocean pollution is threatening sea turtles. Scientists estimate that nearly one million species will face extinction within the next couple of decades. Redirecting these funds into protected habitats, anti-poaching programs, or breeding efforts could save countless species from disappearing forever.

Critics may argue that the effect of de-extinction extends beyond human pride and grabbing headlines, rather than actually helping animals. It gives us a sense of security and allows us to address past mistakes. Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that extinction is permanent. Our focus should be on preventing the extinction of today’s species to address the root of the problem.

The idea of bringing animals back to life is exhilarating, but the future of animals that exist now matters more. Every dollar, every lab hour, and every effort of science should go into saving the animals and ecosystems that we still have today. Our focus should be on protecting life as it currently exists rather than chasing shadows of what we have lost.

(Sources: CNN, Colossal Biosciences, Science AAAS)