Once thought to be lost forever, dire wolves—those massive Ice Age predators immortalized in fantasy fiction—are walking the Earth again. And this time, it’s not a Hollywood creation. It’s science.
Thanks to a groundbreaking project led by Colossal Biosciences , three living pups with dire wolf DNA are here today, marking what may be one of the boldest steps in de-extinction history.
On X (formerly Twitter), Colossal shared the moment with the world: “SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.”
The return of a legend Dire wolves once roamed North America, preying on megafauna like bison and ground sloths. With their broader heads, larger teeth, and powerful frames, they were formidable hunters—until extinction took them out around 12,500 years ago. But a pair of fossil samples, one from Ohio and another from Idaho, gave scientists a second chance at bringing them back.
Using DNA from a 12,000-year-old tooth and a 73,000-year-old inner ear bone, Colossal reconstructed the full dire wolf genome—500 times more complete than what was previously known.
Through CRISPR gene editing, they modified a gray wolf genome by altering 14 genes at 20 specific points, many of which govern traits like muscle mass, skull size, and fur thickness. The result: a gray wolf re-engineered to carry the defining features of its extinct cousin.
Colossal explained in their post: “These two wolves were brought back from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years.”
Romulus, Remus, and KhaleesiThe first two pups—Romulus and Remus—were born on October 1, 2024, and a third, Khaleesi, followed weeks later. They live in Zone Alpha, a 2,000-acre ecological preserve in a secret location in the northern U.S., where they are being monitored, studied, and cared for by a full-time team.
The preserve is equipped with 9-foot fencing, surveillance drones, and a full animal hospital to ensure both safety and long-term research. The wolves eat a diet of meat—beef, deer, and horse—alongside dry food, slowly transitioning to whole prey as they grow.
More than just biologyThis wasn’t simply about cloning an extinct species. Instead, Colossal used ancient DNA like a map—pinpointing the key genes that defined dire wolves, then carefully rewriting them into modern wolf DNA while avoiding traits that might pose health risks.
Take fur color, for example: scientists identified the gene responsible for white fur in dire wolves but found it also carried a risk of blindness or deafness. So they opted for a modern analog gene that gave the same fur color—without compromising the animal’s well-being.
This project isn't just about pushing the boundaries of biotechnology—it’s about reshaping humanity’s relationship with extinction. As Colossal put it: “This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity… From the beginning, our goal has been clear: ‘To revolutionize history and be the first company to use CRISPR technology successfully in the de-extinction of previously lost species.’”
Their message continues with a hopeful tone: “Now, close your eyes and listen to that howl once more. Think about what this means for all of us.” It’s not every day you get to hear a sound that hasn’t echoed on this planet for over 10,000 years.
Thanks to a groundbreaking project led by Colossal Biosciences , three living pups with dire wolf DNA are here today, marking what may be one of the boldest steps in de-extinction history.
On X (formerly Twitter), Colossal shared the moment with the world: “SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.”
SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025
The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10,000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using… pic.twitter.com/wY4rdOVFRH
The return of a legend Dire wolves once roamed North America, preying on megafauna like bison and ground sloths. With their broader heads, larger teeth, and powerful frames, they were formidable hunters—until extinction took them out around 12,500 years ago. But a pair of fossil samples, one from Ohio and another from Idaho, gave scientists a second chance at bringing them back.
Using DNA from a 12,000-year-old tooth and a 73,000-year-old inner ear bone, Colossal reconstructed the full dire wolf genome—500 times more complete than what was previously known.
Through CRISPR gene editing, they modified a gray wolf genome by altering 14 genes at 20 specific points, many of which govern traits like muscle mass, skull size, and fur thickness. The result: a gray wolf re-engineered to carry the defining features of its extinct cousin.
Colossal explained in their post: “These two wolves were brought back from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years.”
Romulus, Remus, and KhaleesiThe first two pups—Romulus and Remus—were born on October 1, 2024, and a third, Khaleesi, followed weeks later. They live in Zone Alpha, a 2,000-acre ecological preserve in a secret location in the northern U.S., where they are being monitored, studied, and cared for by a full-time team.
The preserve is equipped with 9-foot fencing, surveillance drones, and a full animal hospital to ensure both safety and long-term research. The wolves eat a diet of meat—beef, deer, and horse—alongside dry food, slowly transitioning to whole prey as they grow.
More than just biologyThis wasn’t simply about cloning an extinct species. Instead, Colossal used ancient DNA like a map—pinpointing the key genes that defined dire wolves, then carefully rewriting them into modern wolf DNA while avoiding traits that might pose health risks.
Take fur color, for example: scientists identified the gene responsible for white fur in dire wolves but found it also carried a risk of blindness or deafness. So they opted for a modern analog gene that gave the same fur color—without compromising the animal’s well-being.
This project isn't just about pushing the boundaries of biotechnology—it’s about reshaping humanity’s relationship with extinction. As Colossal put it: “This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity… From the beginning, our goal has been clear: ‘To revolutionize history and be the first company to use CRISPR technology successfully in the de-extinction of previously lost species.’”
Their message continues with a hopeful tone: “Now, close your eyes and listen to that howl once more. Think about what this means for all of us.” It’s not every day you get to hear a sound that hasn’t echoed on this planet for over 10,000 years.
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