Science & technology

Scientists Achieve Breakthrough in Dodo De-Extinction Project

Published SEP 18 2025

Story

Above: A zoological taxidermist next to the living reconstruction of a dodo in Hessen, Frankfurt, on Feb. 20, 2019. Image credit: Boris Roessler/Picture Alliance/Getty Images

The Facts

Colossal Biosciences this week announced it has successfully grown pigeon primordial germ cells for the first time, which are precursor cells to sperm and eggs that form the foundation for de-extinction efforts.
The Mirror US
The News International
The Texas-based biotechnology company has also created gene-edited chickens that will serve as surrogates for dodo offspring by having modified pigeon primordial germ cells inserted into them.
The Telegraph
guardian
The Times (UK)
Colossal raised $120 million in its latest funding round, bringing total investment to over $555 million since launching in 2021, with the company now valued at $10.32 billion.
CNN
New York Post
The Economic Times
The dodo bird went extinct in the 17th century on the island of Mauritius, with the last reliable sighting recorded by a Dutch sailor in 1662 who described it as a "kind of very big goose."
Independent
The News International
Scientists plan to use Nicobar pigeons as the genetic base for the dodo project since they are the closest living relatives of the extinct dodo, which was discovered through genome sequencing in 2022.
CNN
The Telegraph
Company executives estimate the timeline for producing live dodos is approximately five to seven years, with plans to create thousands of birds with sufficient genetic diversity for wild release in Mauritius.
guardian
The News International

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The Spin

Techno-optimist narrative

The dodo’s possible return is more than a scientific marvel — it is a moral redemption. To resurrect what human greed once erased is to restore wonder, biodiversity, and hope. De-extinction is not just about a bird; it is about healing ecosystems, inspiring future generations, and proving that even our gravest mistakes can, with courage, be undone.

National Geographic

Futurism

Techno-skeptic narrative

Reviving the dodo may dazzle headlines, but it reeks of scientific vanity. Pouring vast resources into resurrecting a long-dead bird while countless living species edge toward extinction is reckless. Conservation should not indulge in playing god with yesterday’s mistakes. The dodo’s return risks distraction from the crises already at hand.