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Entry 239Filed under Breeding

Scientists Are Trying to Bring Back the Dodo—But It Hasn’t Happened Yet

No dodo has been brought back. Colossal reports early genomic, germ-cell, surrogate, and incubation research, but a dodo-like proxy has not been produced and would not be an exact recreation of the extinct bird.
6-minute read By Animalso Team

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No dodo has been brought back. Colossal Biosciences is trying to develop a dodo-like bird using genomic comparisons, gene editing, and avian reproductive technologies. Its reported milestones are intermediate research steps; any resulting bird would be a proxy with selected dodo-associated traits, not an exact recreation of the extinct species.

Has the dodo been resurrected?

No living dodo or dodo-like bird has been reported. The dodo, Raphus cucullatus, is extinct. Colossal’s project aims to use genetic information from the dodo and living birds to engineer a proxy. A genome sequence, cultured cells, or an incubation technology is not a living animal.

The distinction matters: even a future bird carrying selected dodo-associated traits would not be an exact genetic copy of a historical dodo. Its development would also depend on living species and environmental conditions. Producing a bird would not, by itself, restore the dodo’s former habitat or ecological role.

What is the dodo project trying to do?

Colossal says it sequenced a dodo genome using DNA from a skull held by the Natural History Museum of Denmark. Its dodo project page reports roughly 50× sequencing coverage and identifies the Nicobar pigeon as the dodo’s closest living relative. The company also uses the extinct Rodrigues solitaire in genetic comparisons.

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The broad plan is to compare genomes, identify genetic differences associated with selected traits, edit cells from living birds, and find a way to pass edited germ cells through a surrogate. Colossal describes several research stages, including primordial germ-cell culture, genome editing, surrogacy, and incubation. Its project page acknowledges that efficient simultaneous editing of multiple genes remains limited.

As Nature Biotechnology has explained, an engineered animal would combine genetic and environmental contributions from related living species with engineered changes. In 2023, paleogeneticist Beth Shapiro told the Associated Press that “it’s not possible to recreate a 100% identical copy of something that’s gone.”

What has happened so far?

Colossal has announced long-term culture of pigeon primordial germ cells and gene-edited chicken surrogates that lack their own germ cells. The company describes these as steps toward a possible dodo-like reproductive pathway. They do not show that edited Nicobar pigeon germ cells have produced a dodo-like embryo, chick, or adult bird.

In May 2026, Colossal said its artificial-egg system had hatched 26 chickens. Scientific American reported the figure and noted that the company had not released a peer-reviewed paper or public dataset with the results at that time; independent scientists had not evaluated the method. The report did not give the number of embryos attempted, so no hatch rate can be calculated. The 26 figure is a company-reported result, not an independently validated success rate.

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Reported milestone What it indicates What it does not establish
Dodo genome sequencing A genetic reference for comparison with living birds; Colossal reports roughly 50× coverage. A living dodo, embryo, or clone.
Pigeon primordial germ-cell culture and gene-edited chicken surrogates Early work on a possible avian reproductive pathway, as reported by Colossal. A successful pipeline using edited Nicobar pigeon cells or a fertile dodo-like bird.
Artificial-egg system reportedly hatched 26 chickens An incubation result announced by Colossal and reported by Scientific American. A demonstrated ability to incubate a dodo-like embryo or an independently validated hatch rate.
Five-to-seven-year projection Colossal’s announced timeline for seeing a dodo-like bird return. An independently established delivery date or proof that a bird is close to being produced.

Why scientists are not simply cloning a dodo

The proposed approach is not ordinary cloning. Colossal’s plan relies on primordial germ cells, early cells that can develop into sperm or eggs. The intended route involves multiple steps, each of which would need to work:

  1. Compare the dodo genome with genomes of living relatives and identify changes associated with selected traits.
  2. Culture and edit germ cells from a living bird.
  3. Get the edited cells to function through a surrogate reproductive system.
  4. Support development and incubation so an engineered bird can hatch.
  5. Establish that any resulting birds are healthy, fertile, and able to pass on the intended traits.

Colossal’s announcements describe early capabilities and aims, not a completed process. The company’s five-to-seven-year timeline is a projection, not a validated scientific forecast.

What the artificial-egg result does—and does not—show

The artificial-egg work is an incubation project, separate from the genetic work needed to create a dodo-like proxy. Colossal’s reported chicken hatchings do not show that a dodo-like embryo has been made or that the system can support one. Scientific American reported in May 2026 that no peer-reviewed paper or public dataset accompanied the announcement and that independent evaluation had not yet occurred.

These results should therefore be described as company-reported early research. They do not establish a complete artificial womb, a successful dodo incubation method, or a path to releasing a bird in the wild.

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Could a dodo-like bird live in the wild?

That remains unknown. A bird’s health, behavior, reproduction, and survival would matter, as would suitable habitat and the effects of releasing it into an ecosystem that has changed since the dodo went extinct. The sources reviewed do not establish an approved release plan, a self-sustaining population, or a successful rewilding outcome.

Independent experts quoted by the Associated Press and Scientific American have emphasized that producing a bird would not restore the lost ecosystem or undo the conditions that caused extinction. Any proposed release would raise questions about animal welfare, ecological risk, regulation, and conservation benefit.

The conservation debate

Supporters argue that reproductive and incubation tools developed through de-extinction research could eventually help living endangered birds. That possible benefit is not guaranteed, and the research does not yet demonstrate a conservation impact.

Critics question whether money and attention devoted to de-extinction could be better spent protecting living species and their habitats. Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University, told the Associated Press: “There’s a real hazard in saying that if we destroy nature, we can just put it back together again — because we can’t.” These concerns are part of the project’s conservation debate, not evidence that its technical goals have been achieved.

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What would count as convincing evidence?

A genome, a cell-culture result, or an incubated chicken would not establish that a dodo-like proxy had been produced. More persuasive evidence would include independently assessable results showing that edited germ cells function, an engineered bird develops and hatches, and its health and fertility are evaluated. Any proposal to build a population or release birds would also need transparent welfare, ecological, and regulatory assessment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Has the dodo been brought back yet?

No. The research reviewed reports intermediate technologies and company announcements, not a living dodo or dodo-like bird.

Are scientists cloning a dodo?

No. Colossal’s proposed approach involves genetic comparisons, gene editing, germ-cell research, and surrogate reproduction. It would aim to create a proxy with selected dodo-associated traits, not a genetic copy of a historical bird.

When will a dodo-like bird be produced?

Colossal has projected five to seven years toward seeing a dodo-like bird return. That is the company’s projection, not an independently validated timetable.

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Did an artificial egg hatch dodos?

No. Colossal said its artificial-egg system had hatched 26 chickens, as reported by Scientific American in May 2026. The result does not show that a dodo-like embryo has been made or incubated.

Would an engineered bird really be a dodo?

The most precise description would be a dodo-like proxy carrying selected traits. It would not be an exact genetic recreation, and producing it would not automatically restore the extinct bird’s behavior, habitat, or ecological role.

The Bottom Line

Colossal is trying to develop a dodo-like proxy, but no dodo has been brought back. The reported genome, germ-cell, surrogate, and artificial-egg work represents intermediate research steps. Whether they can lead to a healthy, fertile bird—and whether that bird could provide a conservation benefit—remains uncertain.

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