Colossal Labs to Release Dire Wolf Howl Recordings, Founder Ben Lamm Announces

Colossal Labs, the company aiming to revive extinct species, is planning to release recordings of dire wolf howls later this year, according to founder Ben Lamm. Lamm made the announcement during a panel at SXSW’s London event, alongside actress Sophie Turner, known for her role in “Game of Thrones,” where dire wolves played a prominent role.

Turner, who admitted she initially thought dire wolves were mythical, engaged with Lamm about the project. Lamm recounted how the idea of bringing back the dire wolf, extinct for over 10,000 years, became a reality for his team. He also shared updates on the company’s bio-acoustic project, which was recently announced.

According to Lamm, the dire wolves began howling at just three weeks old, responding to human singing and owl sounds. The first two wolves, named Romulus and Remus, are now approximately six months old. Colossal Labs is exploring the use of AI to monitor the wolves’ behavior, aiming to identify emotional patterns and nuances in their vocalizations, which Lamm referred to as “wolf linguistics.”

“What’s crazy about it is the dire wolves have their own unique pitch and inflection,” Lamm stated. The planned bio-acoustic project will map the different types of dire wolf howls and make them available to the public.

The dire wolves reside in a secure, 2,000-acre preservation, described by Lamm as “very Yellowstone,” complete with an animal hospital, full-time caretakers, and security. The wolves are learning socialization skills to prepare them for potential reintroduction into the wild. Lamm noted, “They’re starting to do some light predation on the preserve. They’re becoming more and more true wolf-like every day.” The team is also preparing to introduce Romulus and Remus to Khaleesi, a new female dire wolf approximately three months old.

Colossal Labs’ efforts to resurrect extinct species have drawn both excitement and skepticism. Some critics question whether the dire wolves are simply genetically modified gray wolves.

Despite the skepticism, investors are showing significant interest in Colossal Labs’ ventures. TechCrunch reported that the company is also working on bringing back the Tasmanian tiger and the dodo. Earlier this year, Colossal Labs secured $200 million in Series C funding at a $10.2 billion valuation and successfully genetically modified mice to grow mammoth-like fur.

Addressing a common question, Turner asked Lamm about the possibility of bringing back dinosaurs. Lamm explained that dinosaur de-extinction is currently too complex. However, he hinted at an upcoming announcement regarding the dodo project, stating, “I think maybe this summer, there could be a dodo update that’s interesting.”