Do Dodo Birds Still Exist?

The idea of bringing back extinct species has gained significant attention in recent years, with companies like Colossal raising millions of dollars to make it happen. One such company is aiming to de-extinct the Tasmanian tiger by 2025 and the woolly mammoth by 2027. However, instead of actually reviving lost species, these efforts focus on creating high-tech look-alikes.

Colossal has been working towards creating a population of undead dodos to release on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius, where the flightless birds once lived before humans drove them to extinction in the late 1600s. This raises questions about what de-extinction actually means and whether it's an effective way to restore ecosystems.

De-extinction is not just about bringing back lost species; it's a process that creates their high-tech look-alikes. While Colossal hasn't successfully created any de-extinct creatures yet, the company has raised over $225 million from tech investors, Paris Hilton, and even a CIA-backed venture capital firm.

Environmental humanists have been studying the morality of different conservation interventions, including de-extinction. They are interested in how this might change people's perceptions about their responsibilities towards nature. Some believe that de-extincting certain species could help restore ecosystems, such as bringing back passenger pigeons to restore forests in the northeastern United States.

However, it's crucial to consider whether de-extinction is a viable solution to stop the trend of extinction. Rather than focusing solely on reviving lost species, scientists should explore other methods to protect and conserve existing species. By understanding the complexities of de-extinction and its implications, we can work towards preserving the natural world for future generations.

Do dodo birds still exist