Have you ever seen the film Jurassic Park? It’s a film about a mad English scientist called John Hammond who brings dinosaurs back into existence using their DNA. He plans to keep them in a zoo and get rich. However, the dinosaurs turn out to be very clever and very, very hungry. Chaos ensues.
Fast forward 22 years, and suddenly the idea doesn’t sound so crazy, or chaotic. Scientists are nearer than ever to bringing extinct animals back to life – though sadly, dinosaur DNA is too old to use.
So the question is no longer can we? but should we bring extinct species back into existence?
On the negative side: thousands of species still here are in a lot of trouble, and need our help, before they too are extinct.
This is my list of 5 animals to bring back:
1. The Woolly Mammoth
Extinction date: 4,000 years ago.
Size: They weighed 7 tonnes and had tusks up to 5 metres long.
Why bring it back: They would be happy living in the artic regions, giving everyone the chance to see an elephant.
2. The Auroch
Extinction date: 1627.
Size: 700 kgs with huge curved horns.
Diet: Plants, grass and fruit.
3. Ground Sloth
Extinction date: 4–5,000 years ago.
Size: 1000 Kilos and three metres long, as big as a bull!
Why bring it back: Imagine going for a walk and seeing one of these gentle giants …
4. Sabre-toothed cat
Extinction date: 10,000 years ago.
Diet: Mammoths, horses and other big animals.
Size: This big cat weighed up to 300 Kilogrammes and had teeth 28cm long!
Why bring it back: It could eat Woolly Mammoths and Giant Sloths to control their numbers.
5. Tasmanian Tiger
Extinction date: 1936.
Diet: Small animals.
Size: Like a medium to large dog.
Why bring it back: Humans hunted it to extinction as they thought it was eating their sheep, but it wasn’t! The ‘tiger’ deserves a second chance.
P.S. Jurassic Park is based on the book of the same name, by Michael Crichton, and it’s a good read!
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What animal would you choose to bring back into existence and why?
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