Dire Wolves Are Back—Here’s What That Means for Science, AI, and Wildlife Preservation
Curious whether dire wolves are real and if they’re being brought back? The answer is yes—thanks to Colossal Labs, dire wolves are no longer just a mythical creature from fantasy shows like Game of Thrones. The Dallas-based biotech company has successfully revived this long-extinct predator using advanced de-extinction technologies and AI-powered behavior tracking. As of mid-2025, Colossal’s founder Ben Lamm confirmed that the first howls of these recreated dire wolves will be released later this year as part of a bio-acoustic project. These genetically engineered animals are not only alive—they’re evolving, learning, and even vocalizing.
Speaking during a highly anticipated SXSW London panel alongside Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner, Ben Lamm detailed the company’s groundbreaking achievements. The conversation, steeped in science and nostalgia, highlighted how Colossal Labs revived the dire wolf—a species that disappeared more than 10,000 years ago. Even Turner herself admitted she thought dire wolves were fictional until now.
Lamm explained that the dire wolf project began with the goal of ecological restoration, not entertainment. However, the cultural significance of the species helped build public interest. “When Game of Thrones came out, I never imagined we’d one day actually recreate dragons or dire wolves,” Lamm remarked. Yet here we are in 2025, with two living dire wolves—Romulus and Remus—thriving on a 2,000-acre private reserve.
What’s Unique About Colossal’s Dire Wolves?
According to Lamm, the dire wolves started howling at just three weeks old. They respond to human voices and even mimic owl calls. “What’s crazy about it is the dire wolves have their own unique pitch and inflection,” he noted. This discovery led to Colossal’s upcoming bio-acoustic project, which uses AI and machine learning to study "wolf linguistics." The sounds—ranging from warning howls to social calls—will be released later in 2025, offering researchers and enthusiasts a rare auditory glimpse into the ancient species' communication style.
Where Do the Dire Wolves Live Now?
These animals aren't kept in standard enclosures. They reside in a Yellowstone-style preserve that features full-time caretakers, round-the-clock security, and an on-site animal hospital. This secret location gives them room to explore and learn natural behaviors, including social interaction and even light predation. “They’re becoming more and more true wolf-like every day,” Lamm said.
Why Does This Matter?
Colossal Labs isn’t just reviving species for headlines—they’re working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and wildlife conservation. The company uses AI to monitor behavioral patterns in the dire wolves, allowing researchers to detect emotional shifts and track how they learn over time. This can also have high-value applications in biomedical research, climate adaptation, and genetic disease prevention.
What’s Next for Colossal Labs?
Besides the dire wolves, Colossal Labs is also working on reviving the woolly mammoth and the dodo. These efforts are part of a larger mission: rewilding extinct species to restore balance in degraded ecosystems. Lamm emphasized that their approach is deeply scientific, rooted in genomic research, AI integration, and data-driven animal welfare.
By blending storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and environmental responsibility, Colossal Labs is tapping into high-interest domains like AI in animal behavior, genome engineering, and sustainable ecological solutions
Key Takeaways:
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Dire wolves are real again, thanks to Colossal Labs’ de-extinction technology.
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AI-powered acoustic monitoring will map and release dire wolf howls in late 2025.
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Romulus and Remus, the first dire wolves, are learning wild behaviors in a secret 2,000-acre preserve.
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This initiative blends genomics, AI, and conservation science, reshaping how we think about extinction.
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Colossal Labs is positioning itself at the forefront of biotech innovation, with future projects including the woolly mammoth and the dodo.
The resurrection of dire wolves isn’t science fiction—it’s a 2025 reality driven by biotech ingenuity and powered by artificial intelligence. With public howls set to release soon and more projects underway, Colossal Labs continues to blur the line between myth and modern science, redefining what’s possible in animal conservation and digital biology.
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