The real Jurassic Park is happening: Woolly mammoths are returning and that's not even the biggest news — here's what else is coming

Extinct animals coming back: A real-life “Jurassic Park” style effort is quietly taking shape, as scientists push forward with plans to bring extinct species back to life, and the woolly mammoth is only part of a much larger ambition.

Real-Life “Jurassic Park” Efforts Take Shape in Modern Science

Speaking on Future Tech Feed with Sean Keach, tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, described how his team is working on “de-extinction” projects that aim to revive lost animals using ancient DNA, gene editing, and advanced reproductive techniques, as per a report.

What Is De-Extinction and How Scientists Plan to Revive Extinct Animals

The company, which has been called a real-world version of Jurassic Park, is already working on multiple species, including the woolly mammoth and the bluebuck, an antelope wiped out by humans around 1800 after first being documented in the 1700s, as per The Sun report. The bluebuck is described as having once been considered one of the most “magnificent” animals seen in its habitat.


According to Lamm, scientists are using DNA from preserved museum specimens and comparing it with living relatives, such as the roan antelope, for the bluebuck. Using CRISPR gene-editing technology, they aim to modify cells step by step until they match the extinct species, before placing them into surrogate animals.

Earlier experiments have already produced gene-edited “dire wolf” pups and a “woolly mouse” with mammoth-like traits, showing early progress in the wider research program.

Woolly Mammoth Revival Becomes a Major Scientific Goal Along With Other Extinct Species

Alongside the woolly mammoth, which remains the company’s largest and most complex project, Colossal is also exploring the revival of the dodo, Tasmanian tiger, and other extinct species. The mammoth effort alone involves over 100 genomes and a large team of scientists working on fragmented DNA that is over a million years old, as per The Sun report.

Rewilding Vision: Returning Extinct Animals to Natural Habitats

The long-term goal, according to Lamm, is not just revival but rewilding, returning animals like the bluebuck to natural habitats such as South Africa’s grasslands, while also developing genetic “biovaults” to preserve endangered species before they disappear.

He also noted that artificial womb is being developed to support species that cannot be carried by living relatives, expanding the possibilities of de-extinction research even further.

FAQs

Which animals are being targeted first?
The woolly mammoth and the bluebuck are key focus species.

How are scientists trying to bring them back?
By using ancient DNA, gene editing, and surrogate animals.