The Christmas Island shrew has been officially declared extinct, adding to Australia’s concerning environmental record. This small mammal, last seen in 1985, faced extinction due to factors like the introduction of black rats and associated parasites, highlighting the impact of human activities on the island’s unique ecosystem. Its extinction underscores the loss of four out of five endemic mammals on Christmas Island since settlement, renewing concerns for the remaining native wildlife, particularly the critically endangered Christmas Island flying fox. Experts are calling for urgent government action and a dedicated recovery plan for this surviving species, emphasizing the need for focused conservation efforts to prevent further losses on the remote territory.
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Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, inspired by Colossal Biosciences’ successful creation of dire wolf puppies through genetic engineering, is reconsidering the Endangered Species Act’s list. He envisions “de-extinction” technology as a tool to remove species from the list, ultimately aiming to eliminate the need for it entirely. Burgum views this innovative approach as crucial for advancing wildlife conservation and strengthening biodiversity. This technology’s potential to revive extinct animals like the Dodo and Tasmanian tiger offers a new frontier in species preservation.
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Colossal Biosciences, aiming to “de-extinct” the woolly mammoth by 2028, has achieved a significant milestone. The company created genetically modified mice exhibiting woolly mammoth-like traits, such as thick, golden hair, by editing genes associated with hair growth and fat metabolism. While this research validates their gene-editing techniques, experts caution that creating a mammoth-like elephant is far more complex, requiring far more than just altering a few genes for cold tolerance and necessitating further research into the animals’ behavior and physiology. Concerns remain regarding resource allocation and the overall feasibility of the mammoth de-extinction project.
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John Q. Hosedrinker