DALLAS (KRLD) - Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences is spearheading a bold scientific mission to resurrect the extinct South Island giant moa, a flightless bird that once roamed New Zealand and stood nearly 12 feet tall. The project, launched with a $15 million investment from famed New Zealand filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson, aims to splice moa DNA - recovered from centuries-old fossil bones - into the genomes of its closest living relatives like emus and tinamous.
The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, ensuring Indigenous Māori communities guide the ecological restoration and habitat planning surrounding the moa’s potential return.
Colossal CEO Ben Lamm describes this as “a new model where indigenous leadership guides scientific endeavors,” pointing to broader conservation aims and genetic breakthroughs.
Colossal’s track record includes earlier work on genetic proxies for dire wolves and woolly mammoths - now it's turning to birds. Scientists estimate a decade-long journey ahead to bring the moa back to New Zealand forests, where the species once played a pivotal role in shaping ecosystems.
While many herald the project’s potential to restore lost biodiversity, some experts warn of possible ecological consequences from reintroducing a massive, long-absent species.
Why it matters:
By combining cutting-edge genetic engineering with Indigenous ecological wisdom, Colossal hopes to not only revive extinct species - but redefine conservation science worldwide.
Stay with KRLD.com for updates on this boundary-pushing Dallas-based biotech venture.
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