Should we de-extinct the mammoth?

A bioscience company by the name of Colossal has stated they have begun working on the de-extinction of the woolly mammoth. They are planning to reintroduce the extinct animal to its natural habitat. They have already invested $15 million in the funding of this effort. The grand plan is to de-extinct a large number of relatively recently extinct species and reintroduce them to their natural environments, which could help restore damaged ecosystems and reduce the effects of climate change. In addition to bringing back ancient extinct species like the mammoth, this project will be able to improve technologies, which can be used to help preserve critically endangered species.

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Ben Lamm, co-founder, and chief executive of Colossal, has stated that his company is planning to “harness the power” of de-extinction technology to “rebuild ecosystems, heal our Earth and preserve its future”.

"In addition to bringing back ancient extinct species like the woolly mammoth, we will be able to leverage our technologies to help preserve critically endangered species," Mr. Lamm said in a statement.

Ben Lamm, co-founder of Colossal

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Woolly mammoths used to roam the Arctic, and they used to co-exist with early humans up until their extinction around 4000 years ago. For many years scientists have been collection data, recovering bits and pieces of mammoth teeth, hair, bones and tusks to extract and sequence the mammoth’s DNA.

The expansive migration patterns of the woolly mammoth used to be critical for preserving the environmental health of the arctic. Colossal’s co-founder, George Church, has stated that creating mammoth hybrids could help revitalize these areas.

This could prove to be one of the most monumental turning points in the early 21st century and in our fight against climate change.