US Company Aims to Resurrect Bluebuck Antelope Hunted to Extinction

A groundbreaking initiative by Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences is set to potentially bring back the bluebuck, an iconic antelope lost to extinction in South Africa's Cape region centuries ago. The company's ambitious de-extinction project, detailed in reports, leverages advanced genetic engineering to resurrect species, with the bluebuck now joining a list that includes the woolly mammoth and the dodo. This endeavor is particularly poignant given the bluebuck's history; it was hunted to extinction by European settlers in less than 34 years after its scientific discovery. Colossal CEO Ben Lamm emphasizes the ethical imperative, stating, "If we have the capability to right that wrong, I think we have an obligation to." The process involves meticulously editing the genes of the roan antelope, the bluebuck's closest living relative, to reintroduce its unique characteristics. Beyond the bluebuck, the company also aims to apply its technology to help conserve the approximately one-third of the world's antelope species currently threatened or near-threatened, demonstrating a dual commitment to both restoration and preservation. This scientific pursuit not only seeks to correct past ecological wrongs but also offers a hopeful vision for the future of biodiversity.

“

We're two years into the bluebuck project and have already completed several foundational steps.