Scientists Are Spending Millions to Bring Back These Extinct Animals

Went Extinct in: 2007
Currently Researched by: Animal Conservationists
Estimated Research Costs: TBD

There are many different types of freshwater dolphins still actively thriving around the world, but one particular breed was dealt a bad hand. The Yangtze River dolphin had managed to survive for an incredible 20 million years according to LiveScience, but by 1999 only 13 of these dolphins remained. 

Baiji Dolphin @Extinct_AnimaIs / Twitter.com

The last official sighting was confirmed back in 2002, but why did such a beautiful sea creature go extinct after spending so much time on the planet? It could be down to fishing practices like trawling nets as well as the decline in the Yangtze ecosystem. Given the age of the species, conservationists are currently raising funds to resurrect this forgotten species.

The general dolphin-loving public may be blissfully unaware of this, which is why it’s so important to spread awareness around the globe. We don’t need David Attenborough to tell us that our oceans and rivers need an extra helping hand right now. 

Went Extinct in: 4,000 years ago
Currently Researched by: Russia’s Northern-Eastern Federal University
Estimated Research Costs: $4.5 million*

In 2018, Russia’s Northern-Eastern Federal University announced exciting plans to try and revive one of the most talked about extinct animals of all time: the woolly rhinoceros. A new $4.5 million dollar cloning facility was the heart of the expensive project that would see the prehistoric creatures roam the Earth once more. 

Woolly Rhinoceros ©Daniel Eskridge / Shutterstock.com

Scientists hoped that they would be able to bring back other animals too, including the woolly mammoth, the cave lion, and several forgotten breeds of horses. While there’s been little news on the project’s progress, it’s certainly an interesting concept that news outlets like Comcast’s NBC would jump on. 

After all, the idea of a woolly rhino roaming the planes would certainly be an interesting prospect. Not only would it fascinate science heads, but it would also be a huge tourism draw for parts of the world that were lucky enough to home the species. 

Went Extinct in: 1850
Currently Researched by: Revive and Restore
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $2 million+*

If you haven’t heard of the great auk, you’re not the only one. Similar in some ways to a toucan or even a penguin, these interesting birds were hunted into nothingness back in 1850. But in 2016, Vice reported that an American genetics company called Revive & Restore had plans to bring the species back to life.

Greak Auk @weird_sci / Twitter.com

According to the Disney-owned publication, the group of scientists were able to take DNA from the razor-billed auk and are now trying to manipulate it into a similar DNA of its ancestor. In what is termed a “genetic-rescue,” the project is an exciting – albeit costly – endeavor. 

If successful, the auk could live to fight another day, which would be a huge triumph. Not only would scientists be awarded for the hard work, but the natural world would be whole again with this interesting species welcomed back into the fold. 

Went Extinct in: 1420
Currently Researched by: Harvard University
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $1 million+*

When researchers at Harvard University started toying with the idea of using old DNA to bring back the flightless moa, it was exciting for a variety of reasons. For starters, the New Zealand-origin bird has been gone for over 600 years, making it a very ambitious project.  

The Moa @Roamer61/ Flickr.com

Secondly, every Jurassic Park fan would find it doubly intriguing as the moa looks quite similar to the birds depicted in the film. Experts were able to distill a genome from a deceased moa’s toe, which opened up all sorts of possibilities for scientists at Harvard to study. After all, if the moa could come back, is there hope for other extinct birds too? 

The idea isn’t totally preposterous, and it’s not lost on researchers, either. Each development that is made on one single project often has a knock-on effect on other projects of its kind, even if they aren’t connected. When it comes to animal de-extinction, it’s a team effort.

Went Extinct in: 2000
Currently Researched by: Center for Agro-Nutrition Research and Technology in Aragon, Spain
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $6 million+*

It’s always sad when a species goes extinct in modern times, as it could’ve likely been prevented with proper environmental infrastructure. Such is the case of this creature. The Pyrenean ibex was wiped from the Earth by the year 2000, but scientists and researchers have since been determined to rectify this tragic tale. 

Pyrenean Ibex ©davidsansegundo / Shutterstock.com

By using skin cells from the last remaining Pyrenean ibex, a team at the Center for Agro-Nutrition Research and Technology in Spain were able to grow an entire embryo for the ibex in 2009. A pup was even born during trials – but sadly didn’t survive very long. Despite the outcome, this was still a huge leap for scientists hoping to bring back extinct species. The news made all major outlets, including Disney’s ABC News.

It’s not hard to see why it was such a huge thing. Not only was it a massive advancement for scientists, but it was also proof that this entire wave of research can yield strong results. Of course, there’s work to do, but it was progress beyond a standard many had seen.    

Went Extinct in: Late 1800s
Currently Researched by: Cape Town University 
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $1-$8 million*

The quagga is interesting in both name and biology. This unique zebra-like creature used to run throughout the planes of Africa, but was sadly hunted into extinction by the end of the 1800s. In 2016, researchers at Cape Town University sought to rectify this man-made mistake by taking DNA from preserved quagga skins. 

Quagga @Rbrutti / Twitter.com

According to CNN, the team secured financing and selectively bred a specific genus of zebra to try and recreate the characteristics of the original quagga. One scientist predicts that while the final result won’t be a genetic clone of the original quagga, this cross-breed will still be almost identical to the real thing.

Getting quaggas up and running again obviously depends on a number of factors, but it’s looking more like a reality than ever before. Kids in schools could be learning about this strange creature sooner than we think if science has anything to do with it.

Went Extinct in: 1870s
Currently Researched by: Tender in negotiations 
Estimated Research Costs to Date: Millions

The Labrador duck dwelled in North America right up until 1878. Sadly, the last one was spotted in Elmira, New York, before the species was declared extinct entirely. Scientists have since earmarked the duck as one of several extinct animals that they would love to bring back. It’s not hard to see why. 

Labrador Duck @icliles / Pinterest.com

These adorable little waddlers can be seen in multiple museums across the country. As 55 specimens are still nicely preserved, this makes them the perfect candidate for scientists to try and bring them back to life, even if we still don’t know what caused them to bite the dust in the first place. 

There are many different types of duck in the world, but bringing one back from beyond the grave isn’t a bad idea. After all, despite some of the larger, more dangerous species that are candidates for de-extinction, this little guy won’t bite. 

Went Extinct in: 1980s
Currently Researched by: University of New South Wales
Estimated Research Costs to Date: Seeking funds

In 2013, scientists at the University of New South Wales were very pleased with themselves. They managed to successfully replicate an embryo filled with hundreds of cells using the DNA of the gastric-brooding frog. 

Gastric-Brooding Frog @Cure Seeker / Pinterest.com

This particular amphibian went extinct some time in the 1980s, but it wasn’t your average frog. The gastric-brooding frog used its stomach as a womb, giving birth through its mouth. Despite using a great deal of resources to try and turn the embryo into a living frog, the project stalled at the stage. It was an important achievement, regardless. 

While scientists were understandably disappointed that they couldn’t get the embryo to develop further, there’s nothing to say that they won’t be successful further down the line. With technological and scientific breakthroughs happening all the time, no one knows what the future holds.

Went Extinct in: 11,000 years ago
Currently Researched by: Inactive
Estimated Research Costs to Date: TBD

It might be hard to believe now, but the short-faced bear was once the most common North American bear in the land. Although this long-lost version of the grizzly perished some 11,000 years ago, researchers are still fascinated with its biology – and its sheer size. 

Short-Faced Bear ©Daniel Eskridge / Shutterstock.com

Information on the bear can be found all over the internet, with Google throwing up thousands of search results. Although there are currently no active projects looking into making the short-faced bear a thing of the future, it would certainly be a feat of scientific genius. The species likely whittled down because of the global cooling period that started around 10,900 BC.

It’s important to remember that there are many reasons an animal species completely dies out. While man has a role to play in some aspects, nature is often the biggest factor. The planet has changed dramatically over thousands of years – and will continue to change dramatically as time ticks on. 

Went Extinct in: 1932
Currently Researched by: Revive & Restore and Texas A&M University
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $450,000-$6 million*

Once upon a time, the elegant heath hen could be found anywhere from Maine to the Carolinas, but their numbers gradually decreased over the years. By 1932, Martha’s Vineyard was the only area to have any heath hens, but all attempts to preserve them ultimately failed. 

Heath Hen @undarkmag / Twitter.com

Now, researchers at Revive & Restore have teamed up with Texas A&M University to see how they can use heath hen DNA to bring the species back. According to the Revive & Restore website, the project is now in its second phase of trial research. The colorful bird would certainly look wonderful gracing our screens on the Discovery Channel.

However, projects like this can take decades, meaning that it’s very unlikely humans who were around to see the last appearance of heath hens will be alive to see them grace the planet again. Still, they can rest easy in the knowledge something is being done to right this wrong.

Went Extinct in: 1800s
Currently Researched by: Tender in negotiations 
Estimated Research Costs to Date: Millions

When thinking about what animals would be good for de-extinction, it’s not always about which ones are the most powerful or which ones are the most interesting. Sometimes, it’s about which ones are beautiful. The Cuban Macaw (similar in appearance to that pictured) died out in the late 1800s, depriving the world of its colorful feathers forever. 

©Ansar Noor/Shutterstock.com

The island-dwelling bird was hunted by Native Americans and Europeans, while some were also captured and brought back to other parts of the world as pets. Several museums across the world have well-preserved examples of the birds, so their DNA does still exist. 

That being said, it might not be long before someone tries to extract the DNA and see if the bird can somehow be brought back to life or mixed with another breed. Science is ever-evolving and bird lovers continue to await news of the much-missed Cuban Macaw. 

Went Extinct in: 1880
Currently Researched by: Private Researchers
Estimated Research Costs to Date: Unknown

The ivory-billed woodpecker is an interesting-looking bird, not least because of its unique head. With a little mohawk and a bright white beak, this species was long thought to be extinct. For many years the scientific community thought it faded out in the 1880s – but that may not be the case. 

Ivory-Billed Woodpecker @audubonsociety / Twitter.com

Fox News published a report in 2017 explaining how a new study found the bird to be alive and well all these years later. Although the woodpecker hadn’t been photographed since the 1930s, a gentleman claimed to have three videos that proved that habitat needed protection immediately. 

It just goes to show that it’s not always about what’s cooking in a lab, but it can be about what’s going on in the field. Large parts of the world remain completely untouched by researchers, although different teams are being sent out into different environments every day. 

Went Extinct in: 1936
Currently Researched by: University of Melbourne
Estimated Research Costs to Date: $2-$4 million*

The Tasmanian tiger was a majestic creature, making its extinction in 1936 all the more painful for animal lovers. However, there may still be hope. According to biologists at the University of Melbourne, we could be seeing the tiger again at some point in the next few years. 

Tasmanian Tiger ©Daniel Eskridge / Shutterstock.com

Scientist Andrew Pask and his team managed to successfully sequence the genome of the original tiger. With this genetic roadmap, the team has many tools for helping rebuild the DNA from similar-breed tigers in hopes of someday birthing an actual Tasmanian tiger.

The very idea might seem totally farfetched to animal lovers, but that’s why we have scientists. None of these processes are easy, but neither is reintroducing an animal into an environment. Making the animal is one thing, but giving it a habit is something else entirely. 

Went Extinct in: 1000-1200 CE
Currently Researched by: Tender in negotiations 
Estimated Research Costs to Date: Millions

When most of us think of birds, we think of dainty little flying creatures that land in trees. Back in 1000 CE, however, birds looked entirely different. Take the elephant bird, a long-gone creature that stood a whopping three meters tall and had an incredible long neck. 

Elephant Bird Nicolas ©Primola/Shutterstock.com

Given the timeframe that it lived in, it’s not immediately clear what happened to the elephant bird to see it become history. Many speculate that as humans evolved and populated the Earth, it was simply hunted out. Either way, many would love to see it roaming the planet once more, if science could only catch up. 

It doesn’t matter that we have millions of different birds on the planet already. Seeing something like this would be a sight to behold as well as a scientific marvel, and you can’t really get better than that. Considering how long the bird has been gone, it may take a while before it comes home to roost.