A private genetics firm that recently made headlines for reviving a long-extinct predator is now turning to resurrecting a giant flightless bird with celebrity backing—and major ethical concerns.
Key Facts:
- Colossal Biosciences used CRISPR genetic editing to create a litter of dire wolf puppies.
- The company’s next project involves bringing back the extinct moa bird of New Zealand.
- Film director Peter Jackson is leading a group of celebrity investors supporting the effort.
- The moa was a 12-foot-tall flightless bird hunted to extinction 600 years ago by Maori settlers.
- Scientists remain divided over whether these recreated animals are authentic or simply engineered replicas.
The Rest of The Story:
Colossal Biosciences first gained attention in April after creating a litter of dire wolf puppies using CRISPR gene editing technology.
The pups were engineered from gray wolf DNA, a close relative of the extinct species.
Now the company is moving forward with a bolder plan: resurrecting the massive moa bird.
The moa, once native to New Zealand, stood 12 feet tall and disappeared about six centuries ago.
Peter Jackson, known for directing the Lord of the Rings films, has called the moa project “more important than anything I’ve done in movies.”
Jackson joins a list of prominent investors including George R.R. Martin, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods, and Paris Hilton.
To recreate the moa, Colossal plans to modify the DNA of the bird’s closest living relative—the small South American tinamou—which stands less than two feet tall.
Scaling that into a functioning 12-foot creature presents an enormous scientific challenge.
Some scientists remain skeptical of the company’s methods.
While CRISPR allows for precise DNA editing, critics question whether the end result is truly the same species or a man-made imitation.
The company’s success also raises regulatory and ethical questions about how these animals should be classified and treated.
Much of the controversy also stems from the culture clash between traditional academic researchers and Colossal’s flashy, tech-industry style.
Some critics appear more irritated by the company’s outsider status and celebrity investors than the science itself.
— Colossal Biosciences® (@colossal) July 9, 2025
Commentary:
While some may be dazzled by the idea of resurrecting lost species, it’s worth asking whether this is scientific progress or a high-stakes gimmick.
Nature has a rhythm, and extinct animals were often part of past environments that no longer exist.
Reintroducing them into today’s world could do more harm than good.
Take the moa. This bird vanished centuries ago for a reason—it was a giant, slow-moving creature with no natural defenses.
Bringing it back into a world filled with humans, cities, and modern predators may be cruel. It’s not the same New Zealand it once called home.
Even more troubling is the arrogance that seems to accompany these projects. The people involved seem to believe they can fully control the outcome.
But once these animals are born, there’s no telling what might happen. Their biology, instincts, and needs won’t conform to spreadsheets and lab reports.
We’ve seen this story before—fictionally, at least.
Jurassic Park was entertaining, but it was also a warning. As the character Dr. Ian Malcolm said, “Life finds a way.”
That line is more than clever writing. It speaks to the unpredictability of tampering with life on this scale.
Supporters claim this is about conservation or science, but let’s be honest: there’s a big dose of ego and marketing in the mix.
The celebrity investor list alone makes it clear this is just as much about headlines as it is about habitat.
The risk isn’t just to the animals being created.
What happens if a species brought back into existence carries unknown pathogens? Or if it destabilizes local ecosystems?
These are not science fiction scenarios—they’re real possibilities that deserve serious consideration.
De-extinction may sound cool, but it’s a door that, once opened, may be impossible to close.
We need to think long and hard before crossing that threshold any further.
The Bottom Line:
Colossal Biosciences’ push to bring back the moa bird is raising eyebrows and questions in the scientific and ethical communities.
While the technology is groundbreaking, the consequences of reviving long-extinct species could be unpredictable—and potentially harmful.
Just because we can doesn’t mean we should.
Some animals belong to the past for a reason.
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