The Dire Wolf Is Back

Ethics of De‑extinction and Animal Treatment

• Some see reviving extinct species as no worse than the extinctions humans already cause, even a partial moral “repayment” if humans hunted them out.
• Others argue ethics depend on context: reviving ice‑age mammals into a much warmer climate may be inherently cruel; we already mistreat existing farmed animals badly.
• A few dismiss the ethical concern as no different from selective dog breeding; others say PR exaggeration to raise money is itself unethical.

Why Dire Wolves and Not Dodos?

• Practical reasons: dog and wolf genomes are well‑studied; dog cloning is established; wolves make good baselines for CRISPR work and dog surrogates are easy to use.
• Birds are technically harder to clone and culture embryonic cells for, so dodo work lags behind mammoth and canid projects.
• Several commenters point to “charismatic megafauna” and pop‑culture appeal (e.g., fantasy franchises) as investor bait.

Are These Really Dire Wolves?

• Strong skepticism: only ~20 edits in 14 genes from a gray-wolf baseline, mostly to mimic visible traits; many see this as “wolves that look like dire wolves,” not true de‑extinction.
• The dire wolf–gray wolf genetic distance is described as large; some cite evidence they are separate lineages with no natural interbreeding.
• Lack of peer‑reviewed publications from the company is noted; marketing claims are seen as ahead of the science.

Conservation, Ecology, and “Jurassic Park” Concerns

• Critics say this is flashy pseudo‑conservation for rich visitors, diverting money from preventing ongoing ecosystem collapse or helping less glamorous species.
• Supporters counter that proof‑of‑concept projects can drive CRISPR and genetic‑rescue tools for future conservation (including sterility-based biocontrol).
• There’s debate over whether resurrected megafauna (mammoths, dire wolves) would have meaningful ecological roles in today’s climate, or just exist as zoo exhibits.

Wolves, Livestock, and Coexistence

• A farmer describes modern wolves as devastating to livestock and laments strict protections. Others contest claims that wolves kill “for fun,” pointing to hunting costs and behavior.
• Policy suggestions include compensation schemes, electric fencing, and even trophy hunting as economic incentives; effectiveness and practicality are disputed.

Miscellaneous Threads

• Side discussions cover language drift (“decimate,” “disinterested”), dog lifespan research, and numerous cultural references (fantasy games, shows, and Jurassic Park).