A giant species of wolves, extinct almost 12500 years ago, again emerged by genetic modifications. According to the Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences, Dire wolves are the first successfully de-extincted animals in the world.
The experts have created three dire wolf pups using ancient DNA, cloning and gene-editing technology to modify the genes of grey wolves, who are considered the closest living relatives of dire wolves.
This experiment shocked the world as prehistoric animals could be reemerged in the world using gene editing and modification. Scientists are also trying to resurrect species such as the mammoth, dodo and Tasmanian tiger since 2021.
Celebrities like Elon Musk have already publicly shown their desire to pet dire wolves once the experiment is successful. However, there is another set of experts who claim this experiment is nothing but a false hope.
According to them, this is nothing but gene editing and modification, and no one can bring back an extinct species in the world. Worth mentioning, the genes of resurrected wolves could match 90-95% with the original dire wolves, but not 100%.
6 Fun Facts About Dire Wolves Might Shock You:
Dire Wolves have a long range of habitat:
Dire wolves were mainly found in the plains, grasslands, and some forested mountains in North America and the arid savanna of South America. Their habitat may range from sea level to 2,255 meters (7,400 ft).
Dire Wolves were huge:
Dire wolves were almost the same size as or bigger than modern gray wolves and 25% bigger than modern-day biggest dogs. These wolves were 42-70 cm tall (from head to ground) and weighed 60-68 kg.
Studies of its skull and dentition show that its teeth were larger and had greater shearing ability. The bite force of its canine teeth was much stronger than that of any known Canis species.
They Were Hyper-carnivore:
Dire wolves were hyper-carnivorous that means their diet consist of at least 70% meats which is similar to modern day wild dogs or cats. They were distinguished by their sharp and large canine teeth that can easily cut through the flesh.
According to experts Dire wolves competed for prey with Saber tooth tigers. These two species shared same habitat and diet and hunted the same assortment of prey animals. They may have even stalked each other when extreme conditions arrived.
Dire Wolves has long lifespan:
Dire wolves had a lifespan of 15-20 years in the wild. However, Hon dire wolves, a rare species of dire wolves could live much longer than other wolves. They could live 40-50 years in the wild.
The Reason for extinction is still unknown:
The formidable predators, like any other megafauna mammals of the late Pleistocene epoch, dire wolves suddenly vanished after the last Ice Age.
According to researchers, these wolves extinct due to sudden disappearance of their accustomed prey and they were starved to death. It is also possible that some Homo sapiens targetted and eliminated the wolves to secure their safety and for food.
The Big Dogs in Game of Thrones is actually dire wolves:
If you have watched the famous “Game of Thrones” series, you might remember the orphaned wolf cubs adopted by the ill-fated Stark children. These wolf cubs were actually dire wolves who choose freedom over loyalty.
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