Re: “Scientists genetically engineer wolves with white hair and muscular jaws like the extinct dire wolf” (April 7, Nation & World):
Hearing that the dire wolf has supposedly been “de-extincted” may titillate our psyches, but Colossal Biosciences’ recently created genetically engineered wolves are just one more vanity de-extinction project. How ironic that in the real world, gray wolves are being slaughtered by the hundreds in states like Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, where they no longer have Endangered Species Act protections. The same hatred, greed and ignorance that pushed them to near extinction in the Lower 48 states 100 years ago is alive and well today. Instead of pretending to bring back an extinct wolf, maybe Colossal could spend some of its billions on fighting against the big bad wolf narrative that never goes away.
Hopefully Colossal lives up to its conservation promises and starts funding endangered animal projects all over the world since United States Agency for International Development funding has been cut. Conservationists are worried that poaching, wildlife trafficking, etc., will increase since there are few people left to monitor all the safeguards that have been put into place over decades.
Saving species from extinction sounds like a more productive use of Colossal’s time and money.
Gayle Janzen, Seattle
