The de-extinction company.
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BREAKTHROUGH: Colossal scientists hatched healthy chicks from artificial eggs.
No shells. No hens. Just bioengineered eggs that breathe like the real thing.
This could help bring back giant extinct birds like the South Island giant moa, whose eggs were ~80x a chicken’s. (1/10)
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SOUND ON. You’re hearing the first howl of a dire wolf in over 10,000 years. Meet Romulus and Remus—the world’s first de-extinct animals, born on October 1, 2024.
The dire wolf has been extinct for over 10,000 years. These two wolves were brought back from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed by Colossal from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years. This moment marks not only a milestone for us as a company but also a leap forward for science, conservation, and humanity. From the beginning, our goal has been clear: “To revolutionize history and be the first company to use CRISPR technology successfully in the de-extinction of previously lost species.” By achieving this, we continue to push forward our broader mission on—accepting humanity’s duty to restore Earth to a healthier state.
But this isn’t just our moment—it’s one for science, our planet, and humankind. All of which we love and are passionate about. Now, close your eyes and listen to that howl once more. Think about what this means for all of us.
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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 the pups grow up and catch exclusive videos on our YouTube channel. piped.video/@itiscolossal
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We’re Colossal Biosciences, the de-extinction company responsible for bringing back the first animals from extinction. Our dire wolf pups, Romulus and Remus, were born on October 1, 2024. Watch these pups grow up on our YouTube channel. Link in bio.
These two wolves were returned from extinction using genetic edits derived from a complete dire wolf genome, meticulously reconstructed from ancient DNA found in fossils dating back 11,500 and 72,000 years. This achievement is the result of years of pioneering science, tireless innovation, and unwavering dedication.
It marks a major milestone not only for our company, but for science, conservation, and humanity. With the birth of Romulus and Remus, de-extinction is no longer theory—it’s reality. There’s more work ahead, but this moment redefines what’s possible for the planet’s future.
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The future is so bright, you might need to take your shades OFF for this one. De-extinction is now a reality. Meet Khaleesi—a dire wolf pup, reborn on January 31, 2025, more than 10,000 years after her species vanished.
It's not #JurassicPark but this moment signals the start of a new era in biodiversity and ecological restoration. The dire wolf is back, and for Colossal, this is only the beginning.
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Wolves play a vital role in maintaining the balance and structure of their ecosystems. Restoring these essential players is absolutely central to our broader conservation goals.
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Our Instagram account was unfortunately hacked last night. On launch day. Woof. We’re still dropping dire wolf updates on X, YouTube, and Facebook. *Howl*
Hopefully, we’ll be back on Instagram soon.
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Meet Neka Kayda, the world’s first cloned Red ‘Ghost’ Wolf. She is a rare coyote + Red Wolf, carrying ancestral DNA once thought lost.
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Meet Khaleesi—the first female dire wolf ever brought back from extinction. Reborn on January 31, 2025, she may be a little younger than the boys, but she’s quickly going to catch up to them.
Watch the pups grow up and catch exclusive videos on our YouTube channel. piped.video/@itiscolossal
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The world’s first de-extincted animals, dire wolf brothers Romulus and Remus, were born on October 1, 2024. They are best buds, growing stronger every day, and they live together on a secure, expansive ecological preserve. And while they’re BFFs, they are being socialized with other wolves, as appropriate, to help develop strong social skills.
Music: Grover Washington Jr. - “Just the Two of Us (feat. Bill Withers)”
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Let’s make majestic frolicking a thing ❄️🐺
When you see these magnificent and powerful creatures moving through the snow, remember the vital role predators play in our world.
The dire wolf, sometimes called the “great wolf,” holds deep cultural and ecological significance across North America, especially in Indigenous traditions. In conversations with Indigenous groups, ecologists, and landowners, one request stood out: work on a carnivore alongside herbivores. Wolves, as keystone species, are vital for healthy ecosystems yet often misunderstood. This project goes beyond de-extinction and conservation—it’s about reframing the conversation on wolves and their role in biodiversity.
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This thylacine specimen has been preserved for over a century at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. It’s one of only five of its kind.
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Don’t try this at home, but Colossal Chief Science Officer, Dr. Beth Shapiro, breaks down the extremely complex process of making a dire wolf into a simple seven steps you’ll actually understand.
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🧬 BREAKTHROUGH: We made a major step toward bringing back the Tasmanian tiger. Our scientists have sequenced the entire thylacine genome and created vital stem cells, moving closer to de-extinction. The science is real, and so is the hope. pulsetasmania.com.au/news/br…
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Neka Kayda is the first cloned Red ‘Ghost’ Wolf, made possible by de-extinction science. Breeding wolves like her could help restore genetic diversity to the endangered Red Wolf. See more of her story on YouTube piped.video/watch?v=ukcmyvDf…
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Pawsitively exhausted from being so cute. 💖
Just like their distant dog-relatives, our dire wolf pups did a fair amount of sleeping when they were young. But scientists believe most adult wolves sleep around eight hours, usually lightly, with long nods after a big meal and with short naps throughout the day. Solid self care in that neverending quest for hunt-life balance.
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We call it a dire wolf because it’s derived from ancient dire wolf DNA. It’s part of functional de-extinction—the creation of organisms that resemble and are genetically similar to extinct species, with engineered traits to help them thrive in the modern world.
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We’ve joined @BiorescueP in the mission to save the northern white rhino 🦏 from extinction!!
Read the release: bit.ly/44XSlGU
📷: @Amivee
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NEW PROJECT: We’re working to bring back the South Island giant moa, one of the largest birds to walk the Earth. Gone for 600 years, its legacy still echoes. From ancient DNA to artificial eggs, this project could reshape the future of bird conservation.
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Never-before-seen footage of Khaleesi, the first de-extinct female dire wolf, growing up.
Here’s a rare look at months 1 through 3—from socialization to the start of the ranking phase.
She’s growing fast, and if she gets any cuter we’re printing calendars.
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We’ve sequenced the entire genome of the extinct Tasmanian tiger, and it’s got @People talking.
people.com/scientists-eyeing…
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A statement from our Chief Science Officer, Dr. Beth Shapiro, on the dire wolf project
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We call it YouTube, and it's where you can watch these amazing pups grow up. piped.video/@itiscolossal
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The key traits of the dire wolf morphology are those features that make a dire wolf like a dire wolf. We were able to successfully extract ancient DNA from dire wolf bones and sequence their genome. This allowed us to compare their genome to that of the gray wolf, pinpointing the genetic differences.
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If bringing these majestic beasts back after 10,000+ years doesn’t light a fire in your soul, you might be suffering from a blockage. Could be neurochemical. Could be vibes. Or maybe you just need a drip of dire wolf wisdom. It’s good for your feed, better for your soul.
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Today we announce a new Colossal de-extinction project: the legendary moa of New Zealand. This new de-extinction initiative, coordinated by the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, brings the return of this legendary bird closer to reality.
Hope is taking flight, even if these birds can’t.
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Zoom, zoom, zoom—these wolves have room, room, room. Just like your favorite “in-home, not from the Pleistocene Epoch, overly dramatic house dog,” these wolves get the zoomies. The difference? These wolves aren’t doing laps around a coffee table—they’ve got an entire secure, expansive ecological preserve to zoom around in.
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Why do we pour time, tech, money and way too many granola bars into this work?
Because extinction isn’t just their loss. It’s ours too.
Every species saved is a win for the whole planet.
Support conservation, in all its forms.
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Turns out the real apex predator is a food coma. After the dire wolves celebrated their birthday with cake, they crashed. This is normal wolf behavior after a big meal. A full stomach slows them down, lowering their activity and awareness. Relatable, right?
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🧬 In partnership with @UniMelb, we’ve sequenced the entire Tasmanian tiger genome. As Dr. Andrew Pask said, “Absolutely every single bit of code, from one end to the other.” Catch the full story in this @9NewsAUS feature. 9news.com.au/national/tasman…
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Young dire wolf to-do list: 1) Eat 2) Take nap 3) Maybe do other stuff. They’re more like you than you think.
But whether they’re roaming or resting, the mere fact that they’ve returned from extinction is something we hope ignites a spark—especially in young minds. Dire wolves have long captured the imagination of young people through fantasy and pop culture. By bringing them back, we aim to inspire curiosity and awaken the next generation of scientists, dreamers, and conservationists.
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Pupdate 004 is here. Queen Khaleesi meets her brothers, Romulus and Remus, for the first time, starting her journey into the dire wolf pack. Gentle sniffs, grass chases, and playful log games mark the beginning of a bond you don’t want to miss.
📺 piped.video/watch?v=bH-qb50A…
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Enjoy them while they’re smol, because it won’t last long. In a little over 18 months dire wolves become full-grown, powerful adults. But here’s :16 seconds of indulging in smol.
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Plastic is a macro problem. Breaking is the micro solution.
Visit breaking.com/ to learn more about X-32, our groundbreaking discovery.
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If you could de-extinct any dinosaur, what would it be?
@JurassicWorld
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🎥 Footage of the extinct Tasmanian tiger.
A few haunting films captured the thylacine’s final moments in captivity. Today, they offer more than a glimpse into the past. They are valuable tools for scientists working to bring the species back.
Footage from The Thylacine Museum.
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🌱 It’s giving prehistoric self-care vibes. When life gets hectic, take a cue from the dire wolves and go touch some grass.
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No helicopters or islands or cameras here. Just some amazing science. Watch the making of video for all the details. piped.video/watch?v=F5uCuOwK…
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No islands or helicopters here. Check out this video on the world's first dire wolf preserve. piped.video/watch?v=Lyz8qS6p…
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The return of the thylacine begins today. Learn about reviving the next wave of wild: colossal.com/thylacine
#itiscolossal #deextinction
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Dire wolf de-extinction isn’t about building a theme park, or even solely about bringing back the dire wolf. At its core, this effort is a powerful engine for innovation. It drives the development of cutting-edge research and technologies that can hopefully prevent other species from disappearing.
By advancing the science of de-extinction, we’re creating tools that accelerate the recovery of species already lost and protect those on the brink. That’s why we always say de-extinction is conservation. Every project we pursue is ultimately in service of a broader goal: safeguarding biodiversity and preserving the future of many species.
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Feeling a bit thyla-seen? Get to know the Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, one of the most extraordinary marsupials to roam Tasmania and Australia. You probably haven't seen a pouch like this.
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Meet Dr. @RobinGanzert, the newest member of our Scientific Advisory Board: A trailblazer in #animalprotection, leading @AmericanHumane 🐾 to new heights with life-changing programs and global 🌎 impact.
Follow her journey of compassion and #leadership!
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“Your mission, should you chew to accept it, is to help save the American Red Wolf.” She may just look adorable, but Neka Kayda is no ordinary pup. She is the first cloned Red ‘Ghost’ Wolf, carrying ancestral Red Wolf DNA once thought lost to time.
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Thanks to our incredible #SeriesB funders, we're thrilled to announce the launch of our new Avian Genomics Group, whose first undertaking will be the de-extinction of the iconic #dodo 🦤 bird. #itiscolossal
Rediscover the dodo: colossal.com/dodo
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Someone is spreading fast in the feed. Wait…did you say feed? Here’s an adorable close-up of our woolly mouse. ‘Cause we can 💁♀️
For a more in-depth look at the Colossal woolly mouse, and how he was engineered to have phenotypes similar to a woolly mammoth, check out our post, “Woolly Mammoth Traits Engineered in a Mouse.” 🐁
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Big birds, big eggs, big boy responsibility.
Swipe to see the largest moa egg ever recovered, belonging to the legendary South Island giant moa. This stands out as a rare and remarkable treasure, rich in both scientific value and cultural history.
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5 billion tons of plastic are sitting in landfills, oceans, and our ecosystems 🗑️🌊🌎
Breaking is a new company, gestated within Colossal, that’s on a mission to fix that problem naturally. Visit breaking.com to learn more.
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🐺 Dire wolves & 🦣 woolly mammoths: It's happening. ✨ Dive into our de-extinction breakthroughs and conservation future in this amazing @USATODAY feature. Read it now: usatoday.com/story/special/c…
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The discovery of the Red 'Ghost' Wolf has revealed ancestral Red Wolf DNA once thought to be lost. Combined with advanced biotechnology, this breakthrough offers renewed promise for the species’ recovery.
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Khaleesi is the first female dire wolf to return from extinction. She’s only two and a half months old, but already proving that ‘dire’ doesn’t mean grumpy. It’s a look 🩷
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A footprint that should not exist. And yet, it does.
While walking his dog, Chris Sargent found moa tracks and bones near Pareora, New Zealand. Dr. Paul Scofield confirmed it as Canterbury’s first. Prints and bones together. A rare moment pulled from time.
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Not to be dramatic, but moa girls were built different.
Females reached 240 kg and over 3 meters tall. They were so much bigger than males that scientists thought they were a whole other species until 2003.
Extinct? Yes.
Iconic? Always.
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“Welcome to Dire Wolf Day.” The thrilling announcement George R.R. Martin has arrived: dire wolves have returned from extinction. We’re deeply grateful for his support, and honored to have a fan in someone we’ve long been fans of. Thank you, George.
georgerrmartin.com/notablog/…
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It’s huge. It’s ancient. It was nearly extinct. And now it’s coming back. The California condor is rising again thanks to the Nez Perce Tribe (@npt1855) leadership and the Colossal Species Reintroduction Fund. (1/10)
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De-extinction is a reality. Head over to YouTube to hear the first dire wolf howls in over 10,000 years. piped.video/watch?v=vPX4tm-J…
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These ambitious genes are hoping to make it big–but may make it small. Size definitely does matter when it comes to the LCORL gene. 🧬 As we’ve discovered, this little piece of DNA helped dire wolves become one of the giants of the canidae family.
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🐺 The dire wolves are growing fast. You’ve seen the Pupdates… now it’s your turn.
Drop your questions below and we’ll have our Manager of Animal Husbandry answer them on video.👇
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But don't. But appreciate the thought, and totally feel you. You can however watch these amazing animals grow up on our YouTube channel. piped.video/@itiscolossal
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Aspen trees are thriving once again in Yellowstone National Park. Why? New research points to the reintroduction of wolves. By keeping the park’s plant-hungry elk in check, wolves are giving young aspens the chance to grow tall.
🐺 Predator power.
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The #mammoth is just the start of de-extinction's legacy. 🦣
Our long-term goal is to establish a full species library of genetic DNA and embryos from endangered species, safeguarding them from extinction.
Which species do you want to be safeguarded in our genetic library?
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Emus can’t fly, but they can sprint up to 31 mph(50 km/h). So why’s this chick so hyped? Because we just announced our newest de-extinction project: the South Island giant moa. And if you hadn’t seen your cousin in 400 years, you’d be freaking out too.
🎥HikeNSnorkel r/Eyebleach
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👀 📺 MUST WATCH. The Last Rhinos: A New Hope from Ami Vitale is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. With BioRescue Project (@BiorescueP), we’re using preserved DNA to create embryos that could restore the northern white rhino’s genetic diversity and bring it back from the brink.
With the last two northern white rhinoceroses both being female, a team of scientists must do what's never been done before in order to save the species—create the world’s first surrogate rhino pregnancy.
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#probablyneededahug but went with a good ol’ antler chew instead.
Meet Neka Kayda, the world’s first cloned Red ‘Ghost’ Wolf. She’s ushering in a new era for Red Wolf conservation. Learn more about her story here.
piped.video/watch?v=ukcmyvDf…
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🥹🐾💀 Stop what you’re doing: We got the shot. Dire wolf puppy toe beans. I repeat: Toe. Beans.
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🔥 These craniofacial embryo images of birds are more than just stunning. They’re helping us bring back the dodo. By studying how beaks form, our scientists can pinpoint the edits needed to turn a Nicobar pigeon into a dodo.
(1/10)
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Even a bird that can’t fly can still disappear. From kakapo to kiwi, several flightless extant species are now threatened. We’re working to bring back the moa, and with it, new tools to help conserve its living relatives. How many of these birds do you know?
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👑 The queen of the pack just met the pool… and she did not hold back. One cautious paw turned into two, then a full-body leap as curiosity turned into pure, splash-filled joy.
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You might think the giant, flightless moa was most closely related to emus. But DNA shows its closest living relatives are tinamous, small birds from South America that can still fly. We are now exploring both emus and tinamous as possible surrogates to help bring the moa back.
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🐺 Dire wolf update: the pups have doubled in size.
In dire wolf Pupdate 002, Colossal’s Chief Animal Officer Matt James and animal husbandry manager Paige McNickle share the latest on the world’s first de-extinct dire wolves. Watch now on YouTube: piped.video/watch?v=7ZOHaY-p…
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We’re launching the Colossal Species Reintroduction Fund: $250K annually to help return missing and at-risk species to the wild. Rewilding restores ecosystems and helps prevent extinctions. This is one more step toward making extinction a thing of the past.
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"These mice are massively adorable. They are significantly cuter than we anticipated, which probably means that our first-generation mammoths will also be equally as cute." – Ben Lamm 🧬
The de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences wants to bring back the mammoth, and it’s starting with a woolly mouse.
Read more here: wired.com/story/scientists-j…
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The moa went extinct around 1400 CE. What was happening in the world when they disappeared?
Pandemics, power plays, new empires, rising cities, and shifting cultures. The last moa stepped out of history just as the modern world was kicking off.
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🤍 Polar bears aren’t truly white. Their fur is transparent and hollow, reflecting sunlight like ice and making them appear snow-white or sometimes even yellow. Beneath all that fur is jet-black skin that soaks up the Arctic sun. Nature’s ultimate illusion.
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After more than 10,000 years, the dire wolf has been brought back from extinction. But how was it done? In this video, hear directly from the pioneering scientists who turned the impossible into reality, and discover the first two critical steps: recovering viable ancient DNA and sequencing the dire wolf genome.
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You could call this wolfing, or noshing. It’s feeding behavior defined by the frenetic, rapid ingestion of a novel and highly palatable food source (see here: a ceremonial dessert).
🐺 🎂 Basically, the dire wolves went all pleistocene predator on their birthday cake.
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Breaking News 🚨🦏 Our partners at BioRescue (@IZWberlin) have successfully achieved an #IVF pregnancy in a northern white #rhino through embryo transfer! This effort is an undeniable proof of concept and a huge step forward in the fight to save the species from #extinction.
📷: Ami Vitale
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🚨🦤✨ HUGE breakthroughs on the path to bringing back the dodo. From gene-edited birds to the first pigeon primordial germ cells, and more, extinction is losing.
Scroll through and feel the rise of “Big Dodo Energy.”
(1/11)
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🐢 Meet the Bolson tortoise: North America’s largest, rarest land reptile and the star of the world’s only Pleistocene rewilding effort. With help from our Colossal Species Reintroduction Fund, and Turner Endangered Species Fund (@TurnerFund), it’s making a comeback.
(1/10)
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🐥 We’re cluckin’ thrilled: our first gene-edited chickens are here! They’re laying eggs, and we’ve confirmed our first fully gene-edited bird. Next up, testing their “sterile” eggs to host pigeon PGCs. One fluffy step closer to the dodo. 😍
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They couldn’t fly, and when the threats came, they couldn’t escape.
These flightless legends once ruled islands and continents. Today, they’re just echoes in fossils and folktales.
But hope is still alive. We’re working on the de-extinction of the dodo and the moa.
(1/10)
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🚨👨🔬 Big news: Dr. Andrew Pask, mastermind of the thylacine comeback, is now full time at Colossal as Chief Biology Officer. He’ll lead Colossal Australia 🇦🇺 in partnership with @unimelb, advancing de-extinction and conservation on a global scale.
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“I’ve seen wolves before… but that is a different animal,” said @JoeRogan after meeting the dire wolves. He just sat down with our Chief Science Officer Dr. Beth Shapiro to talk about what he saw.
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Only one painting captured a thylacine family, showing a mother and her joeys who crossed an ocean in 1902.
One joey died, but two survived and were later immortalized in a famous photo. All three are now at the Smithsonian, a reminder that conservation cannot wait.
(1/6)
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