Colossal Biosciences, a US-based biotech company behind bringing dire wolves back from extinction, has revealed that the pups produced last year were ready to breed.
This marks the first time in the last 12,000 years that dire wolves will breed on Earth.
The genetically engineered animals, named Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi, were developed using ancient DNA and gene editing technology by the Texas-based company.
The company says the wolves have now reached breeding age and could form the basis of the world’s first revived dire wolf population.
Dire wolves once roamed North America during the Ice Age and were known for their larger size and stronger jaws compared to modern gray wolves. The species later gained global popularity after appearing in the popular HBO series Game of Thrones.
Scientists involved in the project reportedly modified gray wolf embryos using recovered genetic material from ancient dire wolf fossils. The animals are currently kept in a secured ecological area in the United States.
Colossal Biosciences has announced plans to create more cubs later this year to increase genetic diversity before allowing the wolves to reproduce naturally.
Several researchers claim that the animals are not true dire wolves, but genetically altered gray wolves designed to resemble the extinct predator.
Experts have also raised concerns regarding the ethical and environmental implications of potentially reintroducing such species into modern ecosystems.
