Ancient Predator Reimagined: The Dire Wolf Walks Again

In a jaw-dropping scientific breakthrough, researchers from Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology firm based in Dallas, have successfully brought back a species thought to be lost forever: the dire wolf. Though these formidable predators once roamed North America and not Africa, this achievement is a victory for global conservation efforts and a testament to how far technology has come in preserving and reviving the planet’s biodiversity.

Two wolf pups born on the 1st October 2024 (Photo Colossal Biosciences.)

Using DNA from fossilised remains — one a 13,000-year-old tooth and another a 72,000-year-old skull — scientists managed to reconstruct the genome of the dire wolf, scientifically known as Aenocyon dirus. These ancient blueprints were then compared to modern-day canines such as wolves, jackals, and foxes to isolate the traits that made dire wolves distinct. Think thicker fur, powerful jaws, and a broader head — features that set them apart from their gray wolf cousins.

From there, the team made precise genetic edits — 20 in total, across 14 genes — using CRISPR technology on gray wolf cells. Once the DNA was adjusted, the cells were cloned and implanted into donor eggs. The final step? Implanting the embryos into surrogate mothers. The surrogates used were large, mixed-breed domestic dogs — a modern interspecies bridge that led to something truly historic.

On October 1, 2024, two male pups were born. A third, a female, followed on January 30, 2025. These are not carbon copies of the dire wolves that once ruled the Pleistocene, but hybrids that visually and genetically resemble them more than anything alive today. In other words, they may not be 100% dire wolf — but they're certainly the closest we've come in over 12,000 years.

Currently, the three pups live on a 2,000-acre sanctuary surrounded by zoo-grade fencing, equipped with drones, surveillance, and on-site personnel. The facility has received humane certification and is registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Colossal has previously announced plans to bring back other extinct species like the woolly mammoth, the dodo, and the Tasmanian tiger. But this unpublicised project may be their most surprising and successful leap to date.

While some experts applaud the project’s rigorous ethical standards and scientific promise, others remain cautious. Critics argue that millions spent on such ventures could be used to protect existing endangered species. There’s also concern over the role these revived animals will play in today’s ecosystems — especially when even current wolf populations face political challenges in some areas.

Still, the technology used to create these dire wolf pups is already making waves. Colossal says it’s produced two litters of cloned red wolves — one of the rarest wolf species — using less invasive methods honed during the dire wolf project. These applications could become lifelines for countless species teetering on the brink of extinction.

Ultimately, whether these pups are seen as true dire wolves or simply close replicas is a debate for scientists. But as evolutionary geneticist Love Dalén pointed out, they carry unique genes that make them look more like dire wolves than anything alive today — and that alone is worth celebrating.

At KhakiBush, we may focus on Africa’s wild heart, but we know that conservation wins anywhere on Earth are wins for all of us. Reviving lost species, protecting those still here, and pushing boundaries in science are efforts that unite us across continents. Today, it's the dire wolf. Tomorrow, who knows what else we might save?

Visit https://colossal.com/