Many experts say bringing back mammoths would be a conservation victory unlike any other in history. In the Arctic, mammoths were a keystone species, meaning they had a big impact on everything in their ecosystem. The Colossal team says the mammoth’s return could greatly boost biodiversity.
Colossal also claims that de-extinction could help combat climate change. Mammoths scraped away snow, allowing cold air to reach the frozen soil beneath, called permafrost. Without the beasts, some of the permafrost thawed. That released greenhouse gases, which cause the planet to warm. Some scientists say bringing back mammoths can reverse this trend.
Supporters of de-extinction say the process could also help save endangered species. They argue that the technology could be used to change the DNA of animals to make them stronger and better able to fight diseases. Eriona Hysolli is the head biologist at Colossal. She believes her team’s efforts could protect animals in danger of disappearing.
“We have to think outside the box,” Hysolli says. “We need new ideas before we lose a species for good.”