A Planet on the Brink

We are at risk of losing more than 1 million species to extinction.

Biodiversity loss is occurring at an unprecedented rate and the climate is reaching a tipping point. While we know that traditional conservation efforts work effectively, we need every possible tool to scale up the protection and restoration of the planet.

Enter Colossal + Re:wild

By deploying Colossal’s innovative and game-changing technology and combining that with Re:wild’s extensive experience working with local partners to restore and protect the planet, we’ll be able to save species on the brink of extinction more rapidly than with current conservation efforts alone.

“For some Critically Endangered species, this technology may be the last best hope for their survival. For many others, this technology may be the difference between merely surviving and actually thriving.”

Barney Long
Re:wild Senior Director of Conservation Strategies

Restoring species is a nature-based solution that helps capture carbon.

We know that restoring species to their natural habitats is a critical nature-based solution to the interconnected biodiversity loss, climate change, and human wellbeing crises.

Research shows that protecting and rewilding even a small, targeted group of wildlife species would help facilitate the capture and storage of enough carbon to contribute towards the goal of keeping the global rising temperature below the 1.5-degree Celsius tipping point.

Asian and African Elephants:

From developing an Elephant Herpes Virus vaccine, to understanding the genetic diversity of these species, to using AI technology to understand elephant movement and behavior and reintroduce orphan elephants to the wild, we are working on multiple elephant conservation initiatives. As part of their de-extinction work for the mammoth, Colossal has achieved the world's first elephant iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell), which is a foundational technological step toward unlocking the potential of elephant biobanks and can provide us with a pathway towards leveraging synthetic biology tools for elephant conservation.

Northern White Rhinos:

Colossal is working hand-in-hand with BioRescue's dedicated international team to employ genetic engineering technologies in a crucial genetic rescue mission. This effort includes sequencing all available historic Northern White Rhino genetic material to identify lost genetic diversity. With this information, we can restore lost diversity by leveraging gene-editing techniques in future Northern White Rhino cell lines, thereby restoring a genetically resilient population of this rhino species.

Sumatran Rhinos:

The government of Indonesia is leading efforts to conserve and recover the Sumatran Rhino. In support of this, Re:wild and Colossal hosted a meeting with all stakeholders in 2023 to develop a plan for the use of advanced reproductive technologies to support the recovery of the species. We aim to support the implementation of this plan and build the capacity of our Indonesian partners to be able to deploy the best technologies in Indonesia for the species.

Pink Pigeons:

Colossal is a proud partner and supporter of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation’s efforts to restore the native flora and fauna in key ecosystems of Mauritius and its isles. These efforts will have a cascade of ecological benefits for all Mauritian species. Additionally, we will collaborate with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation in the genetic rescue of the Pink Pigeon. By sequencing historical samples from museums and private collections, we can identify lost genetic diversity not represented in the current population and leverage breakthroughs in gene editing and assisted reproductive technologies to restore this crucial diversity. Re:wild will be providing ongoing expertise and advice on this project.

Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon:

Colossal has teamed up with Zoos Victoria to create an interim insurance and conservation breeding program at the Melbourne Zoo for these dragons, which had been lost to science since 1969 and rediscovered in 2023. The partnership also includes initial funding for the fit out of interim quarantine housing and care for the dragons, and, in collaboration with other partners such as Museums Victoria Research Institute, sequencing the genome of the rediscovered dragons and mapping the genetic relatedness of individuals to inform conservation breeding. Re:wild will be providing ongoing expertise and advice on this project.

Tasmanian Devil:

Colossal, Re:wild and our partners at Aussie Ark are collaborating to return the iconic Tasmanian Devil to the Australian mainland. Together, we will collaborate to restore habitat at Barrington Tops for the eventual rewilding of these carnivorous marsupials and other species. Additionally, Aussie Ark will work with Colossal to implement and test Colossal’s artificial pouch technology on select marsupials. This would offer an immense and immediate lifeline to many threatened marsupial species.

We also see tremendous potential for this technology to support:

Northern Quoll:

The introduction of Cane Toads to Australia has had a devastating effect on native wildlife, especially predators. Cane Toads carry a toxin that is fatal when consumed. One species that has been hit especially hard has been the Northern Quoll. This is because they never had the chance to evolve the genetic resistance to the toxin, and die shortly after attempting to eat the invaders.

Colossal is deploying its innovative de-extinction toolkit to engineer genetic resistance in Northern Quolls to the Cane Toad's deadly toxin. This would extend a much-needed lifeline to the species, while helping restore balance and resiliency to the ecosystem.

Vaquita:

We are discussing with the government of Mexico how to secure the full genetic diversity of the Vaquita, the world’s most threatened cetacean.

Amphibians:

We’re looking at the possibility of developing solutions to build resistance to pathogens responsible for wiping out entire groups of species, such as harlequin toads, which have been decimated by a fungal pathogen.

Saola:

A species Re:wild has long been involved with, the Saola may already be Extinct or at very least is down to a handful of individuals. We are exploring ways in which this technology could be used to recover the species, or even de-extinct it if this is our only remaining solution.