A Controversial Proposal Hits the Conservation Community

A Trump administration official has stirred up waves of controversy with a provocative suggestion: why not eliminate endangered species from the list, since we can just clone them back to life? Interior Secretary Doug Burgum shared his eye-popping views on the subject in a statement on social media.

On Monday, Burgum claimed that the Endangered Species List, controlled by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, resembles a never-ending hotel stay for struggling species. "Once a species enters, they never leave," he remarked, citing that a staggering 97% of species added to the list remain there indefinitely. According to him, our current approach to conservation focuses too much on regulations and not enough on innovation.

The Case for 'De-Extinction'

What’s Burgum’s grand justification? Groundbreaking "de-extinction" technology, particularly highlighted by the startup Colossal, which recently announced the revival of the long-extinct dire wolf. Burgum argues that such advancements shake the traditional wisdom surrounding conservation efforts. "The revival of the Dire Wolf heralds an era of scientific wonder," he proclaimed, suggesting we pivot towards using these technologies to bolster biodiversity.

However, experts are quick to debunk such claims. The so-called revived dire wolves are, in fact, modern gray wolves genetically modified to exhibit some characteristics of their ancestors. Research indicates that dire wolves aren't even direct ancestors of gray wolves, casting doubt on the authenticity of these so-called de-extinct creatures.

Reality Checks on 'De-Extinction'

Colossal’s efforts are hardly yielding real clones; they’ve created 'woolly mice' that mimic the appearance of woolly mammoths without employing actual genetic material from the extinct animals. Nic Rawlence, an associate professor from New Zealand, emphasizes that we cannot truly bring extinct species back because ancient DNA is typically too degraded for cloning.

"What Colossal is trying to do is genetically engineer animals to look like extinct creatures," Rawlence said. While they may appear charming, he warned: "they're not a dire wolf."

Is This Proposal Reckless?

Relying on unproven technology for the survival of countless endangered species is, at best, a gamble. Moreover, the integrity of Burgum’s motives raises eyebrows. Having a questionable track record on environmental issues, he has deep ties with the oil and gas sector and has publicly supported reviving shuttered coal plants.

With endangered species hanging by a thread, Burgum's cavalier attitude towards conservation could lead to dire consequences for the planet's fragile ecosystems.