Dodo’s Return: A Bold New Era?

Colossal Biosciences’ ambitious plan to resurrect the dodo bird raises significant ethical and ecological concerns.

Story Highlights

Colossal Biosciences aims to reintroduce thousands of dodos within ten years.
The project has secured $120 million in funding to advance de-extinction efforts.
Technical success with dire wolf pups boosts confidence in the dodo project.

De-Extinction Efforts: A Bold New Frontier

Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology company founded in 2021, is pushing boundaries with its latest endeavor to bring back the extinct dodo bird. Using advanced genetic engineering techniques, the company plans to reintroduce thousands of dodos to Mauritius, where the species was last seen in the 17th century. This effort follows their technical success with de-extincting dire wolf pups, showcasing the potential feasibility of such projects.

Ethical and Ecological Concerns

The announcement has sparked intense debate among scientists and ethicists. Concerns center around the moral hazards of de-extinction, including the risk of reducing urgency for traditional conservation efforts. Additionally, the ecological impact of reintroducing a species to an environment that has evolved without it for centuries remains uncertain. These factors pose significant questions about the long-term viability and ethical implications of the project.

The viability of reintroducing the dodo to modern Mauritius is particularly uncertain, given the significant ecological changes the island has undergone since the bird’s extinction.

EXCLUSIVE: The dodo could return within 5–7 years.

Colossal Biosciences explains to us about how they plan to make it happen.

Read about the breakthrough step in avian science: https://t.co/UFr4xvCSzX pic.twitter.com/gF6oXfgQMo

— Screen Rant (@screenrant) September 17, 2025

Financial and Technical Milestones

In September 2025, Colossal Biosciences raised $120 million to accelerate their de-extinction efforts, marking a significant financial milestone. The funds will support ongoing technical advancements in genome sequencing and embryo development, crucial components of the de-extinction process. Genome sequencing of the dodo and its closest relatives has reportedly been completed, and the company is now focused on embryonic development and surrogate selection.

While the technical achievements are impressive, independent verification of dodo-specific progress remains limited. Nonetheless, the project’s ambitious timeline and the involvement of high-profile scientists and venture capitalists highlight its potential impact on the field of biotechnology.

Watch the report: Dodo bird De-extinction