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Mauritius Teams With US Genetic Engineering Firm to 'Resurrect and Rewild' Extinct Dodo Bird

© AP Photo / Mary AltafferFourth graders from P.S. 87 inspect a model of a Dodo bird during a press preview of "Dinosaurs Among Us", Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Fourth graders from P.S. 87 inspect a model of a Dodo bird during a press preview of Dinosaurs Among Us, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.  - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 28.11.2023
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The dodo, a flightless bird species native to the island of Mauritius, gained worldwide notoriety for its rapid demise following the arrival of humans on the island. This unique bird with distinctive features, including a bulky body, short wings and a large beak, became a symbol of human-induced extinction and the irreversible biodiversity loss.
The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) has revealed an exciting partnership with Colossal Biosciences, a US-based genetic engineering and de-extinction company. This collaboration is focused on laying the groundwork for an ambitious project – "resurrecting and rewilding" the Dodo, an iconic bird species that has been extinct for centuries.
Efforts to revive the extinct Dodo species have long captured the imagination of scientists and conservationists worldwide. The partnership between Colossal Biosciences and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is set to propel this dream closer to reality.

"This partnership aims at setting up the ground work to be carried out in Mauritius for the ambitious project of resurrecting and rewilding the Dodo, together with our local partners, to make this project a success," the MWF said in a statement.

In this picture taken on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, African wild dogs are seen at private game lodge in Limpopo-Lipadi, Botswana. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 28.10.2023
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Additionally, the joint initiative will focus on restoring critical ecosystems through the removal of invasive species, revegetation, and community awareness efforts.
According to the MWF, these efforts will not only benefit the potential Dodo populations but also support the conservation of other native Mauritian species in the long term.
Moreover, the collaboration holds promise for broader biodiversity conservation efforts. It will explore the application of techniques developed for the Dodo to aid in the genetic rescue of the Pink Pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri), further demonstrating the potential positive impact of the project beyond resurrecting a single species.
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