The howl of a dire wolf hasn’t been heard for more than 10,000 years – until now. And it brought a tear to the eye of one of the company’s investors - Kiwi filmmaker Peter Jackson.
According to Time magazine, American company Colossal Biosciences used genetic engineering and preserved DNA to 'de-extinct' the dire wolf.
In a post on X, Colossal announced the birth of the pups on on the 1st of October, 2024.
“This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity,” the company said.
The ancient DNA was found in fossils dating back 11,500 to 72,000 years ago. Scientists used the genetic code of the modern grey wolf to match the dire wolf genome, with domestic dogs acting as surrogate mothers.
There are now three of these pups named Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi - a nod to the wolves seen in 'Game of Thrones'.
Colossal co-founder and CEO Ben Lamm appeared on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' to explain how the wolves have been doing five months on - and shared a wholesome story about Peter Jackson's emotional response and his link to the pups.
Jackson is an investor in Colossal and has also been working on a massive museum of movie props in Wellington.
Last year, he bought the official 'GOT' throne at auction, and coincidentally, it arrived the same week the dire wolf pups were visiting the vet.
So naturally, they couldn't miss the opportunity for an iconic photo.
Lamm said Jackson got emotional watching a video of the dire wolves howling for the first time.
He physically and emotionally got chills and started crying.
In case there was any concern, Lamm added that animal welfare experts were present during the shoot to make sure the pups were well cared for.
The trio now live on a 2,000-acre property, where they roam freely and receive 24/7 care.
It’s an incredible leap for science - and we’ll definitely be keeping an eye on the pups growth and what the company achieves next.
