The US government is collaborating with the Texas-based de-extinction company, Colossal Biosciences, to create a national repository of genetic material from endangered species. Scientists will collect cells and DNA from over 2,300 protected plant and animal species, cryopreserving them at Colossal’s lab in Dallas.

In a move that could be seen as ironic given the recent weakening of endangered species protections, the initiative aims to provide a last resort for bringing back extinct or critically endangered creatures. This partnership comes at a time when the Trump administration is proposing changes to the Endangered Species Act that would prioritize economic and national security considerations.

While this project may offer hope for the future, environmentalists argue that conservation efforts should focus on protecting natural habitats rather than relying solely on technological solutions. Noah Greenwald from the Center for Biological Diversity suggests that public lands like national parks should be prioritized to prevent species loss in the first place.

The collaboration has been in development for four years and has already seen Colossal’s dire wolf announcement, which used gene-editing techniques to create traits found in extinct dire wolves. The company is also working with the United Arab Emirates to preserve genetic material from endangered species within their borders and globally.