The Return of the Dodo: Science’s Big Step Toward De-Extinction

Few animals are as famous in the story of extinction as the dodo bird. Once a large, flightless pigeon-like bird roaming the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, the dodo disappeared by the late 17th century—just decades after humans first arrived on its shores. Today, the word “dodo” often symbolizes something gone forever, a cautionary reminder of human impact on nature.

But in a surprising turn, modern science is now offering a chance to rewrite this story. Advances in genetics, biotechnology, and conservation are pushing forward the once-unthinkable idea: bringing back the dodo. A recent breakthrough in gene-editing technology and avian reproductive biology has been hailed as a “big step” toward this goal.

This article explores what that step is, the science behind it, the challenges still ahead, and what reviving the dodo could mean for humanity, conservation, and the planet.

The Dodo: A Brief History of Extinction

Before diving into the science of resurrection, it helps to recall the dodo’s history. The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a large, flightless bird weighing up to 15–20 kilograms. Related to pigeons and doves, it had a distinctive hooked beak, stout body, and small wings. With no natural predators on Mauritius, it evolved to be fearless of humans and ground-dwelling.

That lack of fear was its downfall. When Dutch sailors first encountered the dodo in the 1590s, they quickly exploited the bird for food. More destructive than hunting, however, was the introduction of invasive species: rats, pigs, dogs, and monkeys that devoured dodo eggs and competed for resources. Within less than a century, the dodo was extinct.

The last widely accepted sighting occurred in the 1660s. Since then, the dodo has become one of the most powerful cultural icons of extinction—proof of how rapidly human activity can erase an entire species.

From Myth to Science: Can Extinction Be Reversed?

For centuries, the idea of reviving the dodo seemed like fantasy. Extinction was considered final, a permanent erasure. But with the dawn of genetic science, especially after the sequencing of DNA and the advent of CRISPR gene-editing technology, the boundaries between possible and impossible began to shift.

The field of de-extinction was born: the attempt to bring back extinct species or at least recreate close genetic proxies. While still controversial, projects have sprung up around the woolly mammoth, the thylacine (Tasmanian tiger), and, now, the dodo.

But why the dodo? Unlike some larger or more ancient species, the dodo has certain advantages for de-extinction:

1. Close living relatives: The Nicobar pigeon is genetically close to the dodo, providing a workable reference point.
2. Well-preserved specimens: Museum collections contain bones, feathers, and soft tissues from which DNA can be extracted.
3. Ecological role: The dodo likely played an important part in Mauritius’s ecosystem, especially in seed dispersal.
4. Symbolic power: Its story resonates globally, making it an ambassador for conservation.

The Big Breakthrough: Culturing Avian Germ Cells

In 2025, Colossal Biosciences—a company also working on reviving the woolly mammoth—announced a pivotal achievement: they had successfully cultured primordial germ cells (PGCs) from pigeons, the reproductive precursors that develop into sperm and eggs.

Why does this matter? In mammals, cloning techniques (like those used to create Dolly the sheep) can be applied to bring back species. But birds are trickier. Their eggs develop outside the mother’s body, and cloning methods don’t translate well. Instead, scientists must work with germ cells, which can be edited and then introduced into developing embryos.

By successfully editing and maintaining pigeon germ cells, scientists created a pathway to eventually insert dodo genes into them, effectively engineering embryos that could grow into dodo-like birds. This was a long-standing roadblock in avian de-extinction, and clearing it marks a genuine step forward.

How Do You Recreate a Dodo?

The process of bringing back the dodo involves several interconnected steps:

1. Genome Sequencing
   Scientists have sequenced much of the dodo genome from preserved specimens. By comparing it to the genomes of the Nicobar pigeon and other relatives, they can identify the genetic differences responsible for the dodo’s unique traits.
2. CRISPR Editing
   Using CRISPR, a gene-editing tool, scientists can alter pigeon DNA to match dodo sequences. This is not a one-gene job—it requires editing dozens, perhaps hundreds, of genes.
3. Culturing Germ Cells
   Edited germ cells must be cultivated and inserted into embryos of living pigeon species. These embryos could then develop into birds carrying dodo-like traits.
4. Hatching the Prototypes
   The ultimate test will be hatching a living bird that physically resembles and behaves like a dodo. These would be prototypes, refined through multiple generations of breeding.
5. Rewilding
   Eventually, if successful, the goal is to release dodo-like birds into protected habitats in Mauritius, restoring part of the island’s lost ecosystem.

Why Mauritius Matters

Reviving the dodo is not just about the bird—it’s about the island it once called home. Mauritius has changed drastically in the past 400 years. Much of its native forest has been cleared, and invasive species dominate.

For a reintroduced dodo population to survive, conservationists must prepare the ground:

• Restoring habitats where dodos once thrived.
• Controlling invasive species that threaten ground-nesting birds.
• Re-establishing native plants that may have relied on dodos for seed dispersal.
• Working with local communities to integrate conservation into culture and economy.

The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has partnered with scientists to begin this process, underscoring that de-extinction is not just a laboratory project—it’s an ecological one.

Scientific Challenges Ahead

Despite recent breakthroughs, many hurdles remain before we see a living dodo again.

• Incomplete genomes: Ancient DNA is often degraded, and some gaps remain. Scientists must make educated guesses to fill them.
• Complex traits: Characteristics like body size, beak shape, and behavior involve multiple genes, not just single edits.
• Reproductive barriers: Bird reproduction is biologically complex; producing viable eggs from edited germ cells is still experimental.
• Behavioral unknowns: Even if a bird looks like a dodo, will it behave like one? Behaviors are shaped by both genetics and environment.
• Population size: A few individuals are not enough. To establish a population, genetic diversity and sustainable breeding are essential.

Ethical and Philosophical Questions

The possibility of reviving the dodo raises profound ethical questions:

1. Is it really a dodo?
   Even if genetically similar, these birds may not be identical to the original dodo. Are they proxies, hybrids, or truly resurrected?
2. Should we do it?
   Critics argue resources could be better spent protecting endangered species alive today. Every dollar spent on de-extinction is a dollar not spent on habitat conservation.
3. Animal welfare: The process involves experimentation, failed embryos, and prototypes. Is this fair to the animals involved?
4. Ecological risks: Introducing a species to modern ecosystems may create unforeseen consequences. The Mauritius of today is not the Mauritius of 400 years ago.
5. Human responsibility: On the other hand, some argue we owe it to the dodo. Since humans caused its extinction, perhaps reviving it is an act of restitution.

Conservation Benefits of De-Extinction

While debates continue, de-extinction projects do offer benefits to conservation science:

• Genetic tools: Techniques developed for extinct species can also help endangered ones by boosting genetic diversity.
• Public awareness: Projects like the dodo capture public imagination, drawing attention to biodiversity loss.
• Ecosystem restoration: Reintroducing species (or their proxies) may restore lost ecological roles, such as seed dispersal.
• Technological spin-offs: Advances in gene-editing, cloning, and habitat restoration can benefit multiple fields.

The Dodo’s Symbolic Power

More than perhaps any other extinct animal, the dodo embodies the fragility of life in the face of human impact. Reviving it would send a powerful message: extinction does not have to be the end.

But it would also highlight the paradox of modern conservation. We live in an era of mass extinction—species are disappearing faster than ever due to deforestation, climate change, and human expansion. Bringing back one species, however iconic, does not erase the broader crisis.

Still, the symbolism of a living dodo could inspire renewed urgency to protect species teetering on the edge today.

A Timeline for the Return of the Dodo

So, when might we actually see a dodo again? Estimates vary, but scientists are cautiously optimistic:

• Within 5–7 years: A dodo-like bird may hatch in captivity.
• Within 10–15 years: Breeding populations could be established in sanctuaries.
• Beyond 20 years: If all goes well, rewilding efforts could place dodo flocks back in Mauritius.

This timeline depends on continued funding, scientific progress, and ecological preparation.

Lessons Beyond the Dodo

The dodo project is not just about one bird. It represents a shift in how humanity views extinction, technology, and responsibility.

• For science, it pushes the limits of genetics and reproduction.
• For conservation, it opens debates about priorities and ethics.
• For society, it challenges us to confront what we lost and what we might regain.

And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that extinction is not abstract. The story of the dodo shows how quickly human actions can erase a species—and how difficult, expensive, and uncertain it is to bring one back.

Conclusion: Hope, Responsibility, and the Future

The announcement of cultured pigeon germ cells may seem like a small step in the lab. But for the dodo, it could be the beginning of a remarkable journey from extinction back to existence.

Whether or not the dodo walks again, this project symbolizes both the promise and the perils of human ingenuity. It is a story of hope—that science can undo some of our mistakes. But it is also a warning—that preventing extinction in the first place is far easier than reversing it centuries later.

As we watch the progress of the dodo’s revival, perhaps the real lesson is this: the fate of countless living species is still in our hands. If we can channel the same passion, funding, and imagination into protecting them, we may not need de-extinction at all.

The dodo’s return, if it happens, will not just be a marvel of science. It will be a mirror reflecting back to us our responsibilities to the natural world—and a reminder that the story of extinction is still being written.