As science is progressing, companies all over the world are working on de-extincting animals in a bid to ensure biodiversity.
A company named Colossal Biosciences, which claimed to have resurrected the dire wolf, is now planning to bring back the long extinct 12-foot bird known as the moa.
The company is reportedly collaborating with Lord of the Rings director Sir Peter Jackson to resurrect the flightless bird which once towered over people.
As per Livescience magazine, the 12-foot-tall, 500-pound bird, inhabited New Zealand 600 years ago before the Maori settlers hunted it to extinction.
This de-extinction campaign is being coordinated by Ngai Tahu Research Centre. An archeologist at the research centre Kyle Davis said, “Some of those iconic species that in our tribal mythology, our storytelling, are very near and dear to us.”
He continued, “Participating in scientific research, species management, and conservation has been a large part of our activities.”
It has been revealed that the return of the bird is part of efforts to ensure the protection of some of the most critically endangered species in New Zealand.
Experts warn the process will be challenging. However, the scientists have already performed a de-extinction of dire wolf harvesting DNA from fossil specimens and then filling the genetic gap with the gray wolf genome.
Moa isn’t the only animal that Colossal Biosciences is trying to resurrect as it is currently working to bring back woolly mammoths as well.