Why Ben Lamm Chose Dire Wolves As Colossal's First De-extinction Target
When Colossal Biosciences launched in 2021, co-founders Ben Lamm and George Church announced their ambitious goal of resurrecting the woolly mammoth. These iconic Ice Age species disappeared approximately 4,000 years ago. This initial focus generated substantial public interest and helped secure the company's first funding round of $15 million. Yet, less than four years later, Colossal's first successful de-extinction involved not the mammoth but the dire wolf—a species that had received comparatively little attention in the company's early communications. This strategic pivot reveals much about Lamm's decision-making process and the complex factors that shape de-extinction priorities beyond public visibility.
Indigenous perspectives played a significant role in this shift. According to Lamm, conversations with tribal representatives provided a compelling rationale for prioritizing the dire wolf. 'This project came from our conversations with indigenous people groups,' Lamm explained in a recent interview. 'Some of the largest tribes in the United States started talking to us about wolf conservation and the Great Wolf, and one of the chairmen said that his people believe that the dire wolf was the Great Wolf.' This cultural connection provided a meaningful context beyond purely scientific considerations, acknowledging the symbolic and spiritual significance of wolves in many Native American traditions.
The same tribal chairman raised another consideration that resonated with Lamm: '[he said] it was sad that the first animal [Colossal] brought back wasn't an American species.' This observation highlighted a geographical dimension to de-extinction priorities that extended beyond technical feasibility to include cultural and historical significance. As an American company with substantial U.S.-based operations, prioritizing a species with deep roots in North American ecosystems aligned with both Colossal's identity and its relationships with indigenous communities.
Technical feasibility likely played a significant role in the decision. While both the woolly mammoth and dire wolf present substantial genetic challenges, the dire wolf offered several practical advantages as a first target. As a canid closely related to modern gray wolves (sharing approximately 99.5% genetic similarity), the dire wolf required fewer genetic modifications than the mammoth, which would need more extensive engineering of elephant cells. The availability of well-preserved dire wolf specimens from the La Brea Tar Pits provided exceptional source material for ancient DNA extraction—an important consideration given the fragmentary nature of most paleogenetic evidence.
Reproductive considerations almost certainly influenced the decision as well. Successful de-extinction requires not only genetic engineering but also viable surrogacy options for embryo development. Wolf gestation periods last approximately 63 days, compared to the 22-month pregnancy of elephants, the closest living relatives to mammoths. This shorter reproductive timeline allows much faster iteration and validation of the overall de-extinction process. Additionally, domestic dog surrogates for dire wolf embryos presented fewer logistical challenges than securing elephant surrogates for mammoth embryos, streamlining the path from conception to birth.
The extinction timeframe represents another factor favoring dire wolves. Having disappeared approximately 12,500 years ago, dire wolves existed significantly more recently than woolly mammoths, with the most recent mammoth populations surviving until about 4,000 years ago. This more recent extinction means dire wolf DNA has undergone less degradation over time, potentially providing more complete genetic information for the resurrection process. The temporal proximity also means dire wolves evolved in ecosystems more similar to contemporary ones than those inhabited by mammoths, potentially simplifying considerations about their ecological compatibility with modern landscapes.
Size and management considerations likely also factored into the decision. While still larger than modern gray wolves, dire wolves present substantially fewer housing and handling challenges than woolly mammoths would. Colossal's secure 2,000-acre facility can reasonably accommodate dire wolves throughout their lifespans, while mammoths would eventually require much more extensive space and infrastructure. This practical consideration enables a more comprehensive study of the first de-extincted species without necessitating immediate decisions about potential rewilding or alternative management approaches.
The parallel opportunity for endangered species conservation also has influenced Lamm's decision. By working with canid genetics, Colossal could simultaneously develop technologies applicable to critically endangered wolf species, particularly North American red wolves. This alignment created the opportunity to pair de-extinction with immediate conservation impact, supporting Lamm's stated philosophy that 'We try to pair every animal de-extinction event with a species preservation event.' The successful cloning of red wolves alongside the dire wolf resurrection demonstrates the practical implementation of this parallel approach.
Cultural visibility likely played a role as well, though perhaps in unexpected ways. While woolly mammoths maintain higher general name recognition, dire wolves gained substantial cultural prominence through George R.R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series and the subsequent HBO adaptation, 'Game of Thrones.' This visibility created a built-in audience interested in the species' resurrection while also providing an opportunity to distinguish scientific reality from fictional portrayal. Martin's subsequent involvement as a Cultural Advisor to Colossal further strengthened this connection, potentially influencing the prioritization decision.
Timeline considerations likely factored into Lamm's strategic thinking as well. As a serial entrepreneur with experience building and scaling multiple companies, Lamm understands the importance of demonstrating proof of concept within timeframes meaningful to investors and other stakeholders. The relative simplicity of dire wolf de-extinction compared to mammoth resurrection allowed Colossal to demonstrate success more quickly, validating their technological approach and potentially accelerating future funding rounds for more complex targets. This strategic sequencing optimizes both scientific progress and business development—a balance Lamm has navigated successfully across multiple ventures.
The decision ultimately reflects Lamm's multidimensional approach to prioritization that extends beyond technical considerations to include cultural significance, indigenous perspectives, conservation applications, and strategic timing. By selecting dire wolves as Colossal's first de-extinction target, Lamm created a path that balanced feasibility with meaning, scientific advancement with cultural relevance, and technological validation with conservation impact. This holistic decision-making process suggests that future de-extinction priorities will likewise reflect considerations beyond pure scientific interest or technical capability.
For George R.R. Martin, whose writings helped elevate dire wolves in popular consciousness, the decision carries particular significance. In reflections shared on his blog, Martin has expressed both wonder at seeing creatures he featured in fiction return to physical existence and appreciation for the multifaceted considerations that guided the resurrection process. This convergence of literary imagination, scientific capability, and thoughtful prioritization demonstrates how de-extinction decisions encompass considerations far broader than technological feasibility alone.
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