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Which Animal Would You Bring Back?

Normally, being extinct is forever. When an animal becomes extinct, it means that creature has completely died out.

Thanks to modern science, though, that might change. Experts say we can bring back some animals that no longer exist. But which extinct creature should we start with? Is there one that would help us more than others? Here are three ideas of animals to bring back. 

A Mammoth Chance

Think of a hairy elephant. You’re now picturing a woolly mammoth. This extinct relative of elephants lived during the Ice Age. That’s a time when huge sheets of ice covered much of Earth. 

Mammoths had long tusks to dig for food under the ice. They had thick fur to survive freezing temperatures. 

Bringing back mammoths could help us learn how animals adapt to extreme conditions, like the Ice Age. Plus, studying mammoths might help us learn how to better protect modern elephants. 

Science Picture Co/Science Source

An artist’s idea of a woolly mammoth

How About a Dinosaur? 

Its name almost says it all. The Giganotosaurus was a gigantic dinosaur that lived millions of years ago. It was even bigger than the Tyrannosaurus rex! 

Bringing back the Giganotosaurus with its sharp claws and powerful jaws might be a little scary! But it would give us a chance to learn more about how dinosaurs looked and acted. So far those are things experts have only been able to guess about. 

ROGER HARRIS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Science Source 

A drawing of how Giganotosaurus might have looked 

A New Life for an Old Cat?

For a million years, the saber-toothed cat was the top predator in many parts of the world. Its long, curved teeth looked like sharp sabers, or swords. This animal had no natural enemies, but it became extinct 11,000 years ago. Scientists still don’t know why.

Bringing back this big cat might help experts crack the mystery of why it died out. They could also learn more about ancient predators and how they hunted.

Daniel Eskridge/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images 

An illustration of a saber-toothed cat   

How To Bring Back a Woolly Mammoth

Shutterstock.com

1. Scientists search for woolly mammoth remains, like bones. 

2. The remains can contain DNA. DNA is the blueprint that makes all living things who or what they are.

3. Scientists use the DNA to make changes to the DNA of a modern elephant. The new mammoth won’t be exactly like the old mammoth . . . but it will be very close!

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1. What are two traits the woolly mammoth used to survive during the Ice Age?

2. Why might it be helpful to scientists to bring back a Giganotosaurus?

3. What is the purpose of the sidebar, “How to Bring Back a Woolly Mammoth”?

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