While the resurrection of the dire wolf has captured headlines worldwide, a parallel breakthrough with immediate conservation implications has received less attention: Colossal Biosciences has successfully cloned four red wolves using revolutionary techniques developed during their de-extinction efforts. This achievement could prove crucial for North America’s most endangered canid, which teeters on the brink of extinction with fewer than 20 individuals remaining in the wild.
A Critical Moment for America’s Native Wolf
The red wolf (Canis rufus) once roamed across most of eastern North America, but by 1960, the species was nearly extinct. Through the Endangered Species Act and a captive breeding program, conservationists managed to reintroduce red wolves to the wild in eastern North Carolina, with the population growing to more than 120 wolves at its peak. However, when the program was halted in 2015, numbers crashed to as few as seven individuals.
“The red wolf, critically endangered with less than 15 remaining in the wild North America, are themselves facing a ‘dire’ situation,” notes conservation reporting on the species. Although the program resumed in 2021, red wolves have struggled to recover their numbers, with genetic bottlenecks presenting a significant challenge.
Non-Invasive Blood Cloning: A Conservation Breakthrough
Alongside their dire wolf announcement, Colossal revealed they had birthed two litters of cloned red wolves from three different genetic founder lines. These litters include one adolescent female red wolf named Hope and three male red wolf puppies named Blaze, Cinder, and Ash.
The technology used to create these wolves represents a significant innovation in conservation: a new approach to “non-invasive blood cloning.” This technique allows scientists to collect cells from a standard blood draw without invasive tissue sampling, then use these cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer (cloning). The method provides a valuable opportunity to isolate expandable endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which can be frozen for later genomic analyses or used directly for cloning.
“The collection of whole blood is a rapid and noninvasive procedure that is routinely carried out on sedated wolves for veterinary monitoring purposes,” Colossal explains. “These field collections provide a valuable opportunity to isolate expandable endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Biobanking and cloning EPCs from threatened or endangered populations of wild wolves provides a safety net to preserve the genomic diversity present today from further loss and extinction.”
Increasing Genetic Diversity by 25%
The successful cloning of red wolves from multiple genetic lineages could have substantial implications for the species’ recovery. One major challenge has been maintaining genetic diversity among captive and wild populations, all of which descend from only 12 founding individuals.
Colossal notes that adding their cloned red wolves to existing conservation efforts “would increase the number of founding lineages by 25%,” a significant boost to genetic diversity that could help the species overcome inbreeding depression and build resilience against disease and environmental challenges.
“The company’s work to combat extinction of the Red Wolf creates hope for so many other critically endangered species fighting for survival,” said Aurelia Skipwith, former Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Ghost Wolves and Genetic Rescue
Beyond cloning existing red wolves, Colossal is also working with researchers on the “red ‘ghost’ wolf” project, focused on unique canids found only on the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana that carry lost genetic diversity from red wolves.
Dr. Bridgett vonHoldt of Princeton University and Dr. Kristin Brzesk of Michigan Technological University lead the Gulf Coast Canine Project, which aims to understand the genetic ancestry of these wild canines. Colossal’s support has helped accelerate their research through data from the red wolf genome, assembly of a reference genome for recovery population red wolves, and creation of a pangenome for US native canids.
“I am beyond thrilled that such technologies are also being leveraged to support programs of preventing extinction in endangered species like the red wolf,” said Dr. vonHoldt. The technology developed through this research has “unlocked additional genetic diversity and red wolf ancestry that can be a resource to create a genetic rescue program for the red wolf population.”
Rewilding Vision with Indigenous Partnerships
Colossal’s long-term goal is for their red wolves to be rewilded through current US conservation efforts in collaboration with the government. This vision involves partnerships with indigenous communities, conservation organizations, and scientific experts.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to the MHA Nation, the Nez Perce Tribe, the Karankawa Tribe of Texas, INDIGENOUS LED, and the Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, whose ancestral knowledge and insights have guided our efforts,” Colossal acknowledges. The company also collaborates with conservation organizations including the American Wolf Foundation, Re:wild, Conservation Nation, Gulf Coast Canid Project, International Coexistence Network, and others.
Eric Kash Kash, Director of the Wildlife Division for the Nez Perce Tribe, notes: “The Nez Perce Tribe (Niimiipuu) holds a deep connection to our wolf (Himiin) relatives and has long been at the forefront of their recovery and management. In partnership with Colossal, we look forward to leveraging next-generation conservation technologies—advanced by dire wolf de-extinction—to protect and restore wolves and other species crucial to our people.”
From Technology to Conservation Impact
As Matt James, Colossal’s Chief Animal Officer, states: “Colossal’s successful de-extinction of the dire wolf represents a massive coup for conservation. The technologies developed on the path to the dire wolf are already opening up new opportunities to rescue critically endangered canids.”
While red wolf recovery faces continued challenges, the convergence of cutting-edge genetic technologies with traditional conservation efforts offers new hope. If successful, this approach could provide a model for addressing genetic bottlenecks in other critically endangered species, demonstrating how innovation can enhance rather than replace established conservation practices.The cloned red wolves and the dire wolf revival represent two sides of the same technological coin—using advanced genomic tools to both resurrect what has been lost and prevent further losses to Earth’s biodiversity. For the red wolf, these innovations may offer a critical lifeline at a moment when every genetic contribution counts.
