13 Extinct Animals Scientists Are Trying to Bring Back—And Why They Shouldn’t

The idea of bringing extinct animals back to life has captivated our imaginations for years. It’s like something out of a sci-fi movie – scientists in white coats working tirelessly to resurrect long-lost creatures. But as exciting as this might sound, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are serious concerns about whether we should mess with nature this way.

While seeing a woolly mammoth or a dodo bird in real life might be thrilling, there are good reasons to think twice. These animals went extinct for a reason, and our world has changed a lot since they were last around. Bringing them back could cause problems for other animals and ecosystems. Plus, there are ethical questions about whether it’s right to bring an animal into a world it’s not adapted for. In this blog, I look at 13 extinct animals scientists want to bring back and explain why it might not be such a great idea.

Woolly Mammoth

Image Credit: “Museum Nature Science Woolly Mammoth” by AmateurArtGuy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/?ref=openverse.

The woolly mammoth, a giant furry elephant, lived during the Ice Age. Scientists want to bring it back using DNA from frozen mammoths. They think mammoths could help fight climate change by stomping down snow in the Arctic. But mammoths need a lot of food and space. Bringing them back might harm today’s animals and plants.

Passenger Pigeon

Image Credit: “Extinct Passenger Pigeon” by Curious Expeditions is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Passenger pigeons used to fly in huge flocks across North America. They went extinct because people hunted too many. Some scientists think bringing them back could help forests grow. But our forests have changed a lot since passenger pigeons were around. The birds might not have enough food or places to live now.

Tasmanian Tiger

Image Credit: “Thylacine – Tasmanian Tiger” by cenz is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

The Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, was a striped meat-eating animal from Australia. It died out because farmers killed them to protect their sheep. Scientists hope bringing them back could help control invasive species. But Tasmanian tigers might struggle to survive in today’s Australia, where their old habitats are gone.

Dodo Bird

Image Credit: “The Dodo Bird” by mikecogh is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The dodo was a flightless bird that lived on an island near Africa. It went extinct when humans brought predators to its home. Some people want to bring it back because it’s famous. But dodos evolved to live without predators. They might not survive in today’s world full of cats, dogs, and rats.

Saber-Toothed Cat

Image Credit: “Saber-Toothed Cat” by daryl_mitchell is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Saber-toothed cats were big predators with huge fangs. They died out when their prey disappeared after the Ice Age. Scientists are interested in how they evolved. But bringing back such a large predator could be dangerous for people and other animals. There might not be enough prey for them to eat.

Gastric-Brooding Frog

Image Credit: “Rheobatrachus silus 2” by Benjamin Healley is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=openverse.

This frog from Australia was special because it kept its babies in its stomach. It went extinct due to a fungus disease. Scientists want to bring it back to study its unique breeding. But the fungus that killed it is still around. New gastric-brooding frogs might just die again from the same disease.

Quagga

“Berlin Quagga” by FunkMonk is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/?ref=openverse.

The quagga was a type of zebra with stripes only on its front half. It was hunted to extinction for its meat and hide. Some scientists want to breed zebras to look like quaggas. But this isn’t really bringing back the quagga. It’s just making zebras that look similar. The original quagga is still gone forever.

Carolina Parakeet

Image Credit: “Carolina parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) – Field Museum of Natural History.jpg” by opacity is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The Carolina parakeet was the only parrot native to the eastern United States. It died out because of hunting and habitat loss. Bringing it back might help spread seeds in forests. But our forests are different now. The parakeets might not find the right food or nesting spots.

Auroch

Image Credit: “Indian Aurochs B p namadicus 3” by Jochen Ackermann (User name: Altaileopard) is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Aurochs were wild cattle that lived in Europe and Asia. They went extinct because of hunting and loss of habitat. Some people want to bring them back to help manage grasslands. But aurochs were big and dangerous. They might be hard to control and could harm people or property.

Chinese River Dolphin

Image Credit: “Specimens of two fetal Baiji Dolphin, Museum of Hydrobiological Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Hydrobiology (upper view)” by Calliston3 is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The Chinese river dolphin, or baiji, lives in China’s Yangtze River. It went extinct because of pollution and fishing. Scientists hope bringing it back could help clean up rivers. But the Yangtze is still very polluted. New dolphins might just die again from the same problems.

Great Auk

Image Credit: “The Great Auk ( Pinguinus impennis) by Bram W.Langeveld NHM Rotterdam 3D” by wim hoppenbrouwers is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The great auk was a penguin-like bird that lived in the North Atlantic. It was hunted to extinction for its meat and feathers. Some think bringing it back could help marine ecosystems. But the great auk’s old habitat has changed a lot. The birds might not be able to find food or nesting sites.

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

Image Credit: “Ivory-billed Woodpecker by Jerry A. Payne” by Original photo by Arthur A. Allen, 1935 [1], watercolored by Jerry A. Payne, USDA-ARS is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

The ivory-billed woodpecker lived in the southeastern United States. It went extinct due to the logging of its forest home. Bringing it back might help protect old forests. But there aren’t many old forests left for it to live in. The woodpeckers might not have enough space or food to survive.

Steller’s Sea Cow

Image Credit: “Hydrodamalis gigas – Stellers sea cow – skull and forearms – Smithsonian Museum of Natural History – 2012-05-17” by Tim Evanson is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Steller’s sea cow was a giant marine mammal related to manatees. It was hunted to extinction for its meat and oil. Some scientists think bringing it back could help kelp forests grow. But our oceans have changed a lot. Sea cows might not find enough food to eat in today’s warmer, more polluted waters.

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12 Extinct Animals Scientists Are Trying to Bring Back

Image Credit: “Ivory-billed Woodpecker by Jerry A. Payne” by Original photo by Arthur A. Allen, 1935 [1], watercolored by Jerry A. Payne, USDA-ARS is licensed under CC BY 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/deed.en/?ref=openverse.

12 Extinct Animals Scientists Are Trying to Bring Back

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Victoria Omololu

Victoria Omololu is a fashionista exploring the world on a budget. She co-founded Only Earthlings in 2023 to show her travels in North America, Europe, Africa, and everywhere else. Victoria loves writing about travel tips, itineraries, packing guides, and taking photography from all over the world.

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