Discovered after more than a century hidden away, a well-preserved Tasmanian Tiger skull, reportedly found in a bucket, could potentially spark new life for the extinct species.

The world of conservation is abuzz with excitement as scientists and researchers work tirelessly on a groundbreaking project – the potential resurrection of the Tasmanian tiger, or Thylacinus cynocephalus. This extinct marsupial, once Australia's apex predator, is the focus of an ambitious attempt to bring it back to life.

At the forefront of this endeavour is Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech firm, which has assembled a complete thylacine genome with 45 gaps. This is claimed to be the most complete ever produced, thanks to the efforts of the team and their support from director Peter Jackson. In 2025, Colossal expanded its reach by establishing Colossal Australia, absorbing Andrew Pask's TIGRR lab, and naming him the company's new Chief Biology Officer.

The thylacine's disappearance left a gaping hole in its ecosystem, and its return, if it happens, will force us to grapple with ethical questions. To achieve this feat, scientists have made 300 genetic edits to dunnart cells in a petri dish, with plans to replace thousands of genetic sequences with thylacine DNA. A small marsupial called the fat-tailed dunnart will serve as the surrogate, with a dunnart female acting as the host for the modified embryo.

The thylacine's plight mirrors the current plight of the Tasmanian Devil, which is currently facing its own genetic bottleneck due to its isolation in Tasmania for over 10,000 years. The techniques being developed for the thylacine project could have profound implications for conservation, offering a potential solution for other endangered species.

Researchers made a full genetic map of the thylacine in 2017, revealing its extremely low genetic diversity. Interestingly, the thylacine's skull shape closely resembles that of the red fox and gray wolf, despite not sharing a common ancestor since the Jurassic period. This unique evolutionary path has intrigued scientists, providing a fascinating case study in the field of evolutionary biology.

A preserved thylacine head was found in a Melbourne museum, which contains long RNA molecules. These RNA molecules are extraordinary, as they allow scientists to understand the thylacine's genes function in different tissues. This valuable insight could aid in the development of the de-extinction process.

Colossal Biosciences is not limiting its ambitions to the thylacine. Among the species on its growing de-extinction roster is New Zealand's giant moa, a flightless bird that once stood 12 feet tall. The moa initiative is pitched as ecological restoration, backed by filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson and the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre.

As the project progresses, it's important to remember that the animal they create may look like the thylacine, but it won't be an exact genetic match, and its behavior in the wild is uncertain. Nonetheless, the prospect of bringing back a species thought to be lost forever is a testament to the power of science and the boundless potential of human ingenuity.

Discovered after more than a century hidden away, a well-preserved Tasmanian Tiger skull, reportedly found in a bucket, could potentially spark new life for the extinct species.