Dire Wolves has been revived by Scientists, a species that vanished nearly 12,500 years ago, using groundbreaking genetic engineering. Two pups—Romulus and Remus—are now living proof of this scientific feat. At just six months old, they already measure almost four feet in length and weigh more than 36 kg. Texas-based Colossal Biosciences, the company behind their resurrection, used ancient DNA, cloning, and gene editing to bring these creatures back to life, according to CNN. The dire wolf gained cultural fame thanks to the HBO series Game of Thrones.
To recreate the species, scientists used DNA from the dire wolf’s closest living relative—the gray wolf. Dire wolves were once top predators across North America. Compared to gray wolves, they are larger, with thicker fur and more powerful jaws.
“The idea that we could just take a vial of blood, isolate EPCs, culture them, and clone from them with high efficiency—we think it’s a game changer,” said George Church, Colossal’s co-founder and a professor of genetics at both Harvard University and MIT, in an interview with Time Magazine.
Meet Romulus and Remus—the first animals ever resurrected from extinction. The dire wolf, lost to history over 10,000 years ago, has returned. Reborn on October 1, 2024, these remarkable pups were brought back to life using ancient DNA extracted from fossilized remains.
Watch… pic.twitter.com/XwPz0DFoP5
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) April 7, 2025After birth, the pups nursed from a surrogate, and Colossal staff later bottle-fed them. The company reports they are now thriving as healthy young dire wolves.
However, their behavior sets them apart from modern wolf species. Unlike typical puppies, Romulus and Remus show no excitement in the presence of humans. Instead, they maintain distance and retreat when approached—even by their longtime handler. This reclusive behavior is believed to be characteristic of dire wolves.
This project is just the beginning for Colossal Biosciences. The company also aims to revive other extinct species, including the woolly mammoth, dodo, and Tasmanian tiger. Although the team has made limited progress in these efforts, they remain optimistic.
“This massive milestone is the first of many examples demonstrating that our de-extinction technology works,” said Ben Lamm, Colossal’s co-founder and CEO. “We used DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull to create healthy dire wolf pups.”
Please make a miniature pet wooly mammoth https://t.co/UxoIWmzq6h
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2025Currently, the dire wolves live on a 2,000-acre site at an undisclosed location. Security teams, drones, and live camera feeds monitor the area around the clock, and a 10-foot fence surrounds it.
Also Read : Dire Wolf Resurrected: Scientists Achieve First Successful De-Extinction of Prehistoric Predator
In total, researchers have successfully resurrected three pups—two males born on October 1, 2024, and a female born on January 30, 2025.
The news has sparked global fascination. Billionaire Elon Musk reacted to the announcement by posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Please make a miniature pet woolly mammoth,” resharing his own earlier post.
With Romulus and Remus, science has taken a bold step into the realm of de-extinction—reviving not just a species but a piece of Earth’s prehistoric past.
