George Raymond Richard Martin, the acclaimed author behind Game of Thrones, recently came face to face with real-life dire wolves—resurrected through cutting-edge science in what is being hailed as one of the world’s first successful animal de-extinctions.
The emotional moment took place in February when Ben Lamm, CEO and co-founder of Dallas-based Colossal Biosciences, flew Martin out to meet the genetically engineered pups—Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi. Sources say the fantasy writer was moved to tears upon seeing the animals, which bear a striking resemblance to the mythical creatures made famous in his epic HBO series.
Martin reportedly called the wolves “one of the greatest things” he’s ever seen, later writing on his blog about their historical importance to the North American ecosystem. Although dire wolves were long shrouded in legend, scientists now credit the ancient species with playing a vital role in prehistoric predator-prey dynamics.
Colossal Biosciences used pioneering gene-editing techniques to re-engineer the animals, starting with DNA extracted from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old gray wolf skull—the closest modern relative of the extinct dire wolf. The result is a hybrid with the dire wolf’s distinctive features: a large, muscular frame, powerful jaws, and prominent teeth.
The wolves are now housed in a high-security, undisclosed nature preserve outfitted with advanced fencing and oversight, certified by the American Humane Society and registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The company describes the project as part of its broader mission to revive extinct species through sustainable biotechnology.
While the success has sparked global fascination, it also raises echoes of cautionary tales, with some observers drawing parallels to the fictional chaos of Jurassic Park. For now, though, the dire wolves appear to be thriving—bringing a slice of the Ice Age into the 21st century, and fulfilling a fantasy for the man who first imagined them roaming the North.