Many species are in dire need of conservation action, but what will help them the most? On April 7th, 2025, Colossal, a company using genetic tools to resurrect extinct species, announced they had “successfully restored a once-eradicated species through the science of de-extinction.” In other words, they claimed to have brought back a species extinct for over 10,000 years: the dire wolf. The announcement sparked awe, wonder, and hope in many people. But it also stirred significant criticism, especially from the conservation world. Resources for conservation are limited. Why invest in bringing back extinct species when many species alive today are barely hanging on? Additionally, this announcement simply isn’t true. Colossal didn’t resurrect dire wolves. They genetically modified gray wolves to have a small number of traits that make them resemble dire wolves. In fact, they altered roughly 1% of 1% of the wolf genome. It’s an incredible scientific feat but far from bringing back an extinct species. Still, if we look past these criticisms, there’s real promise here. Genetic techniques could be powerful tools to help save some of today’s most endangered species. Focusing on genetic health is vital for both individual health and long-term population survival. Check out our new blog post for more about how genetic tools could be used to help endangered species now and into the future: ARCProtects.org/direwolf Photos: 1. Eastern hellbender, © Steve Atkins 2. Gopher frog, © Ben Morrison 3. Dire wolf illustration, © White Sands NPS #ARCProtects #DireWolf #ConservationScience #Biotechnology #ConservationGenomics #Amphibians #Reptiles (fb)

If you don’t like toads, try again. Southern toads are one of the more common species throughout the Southeastern US, and there’s a lot about them to like. While they aren’t a super common sight, these toads are critical to their ecosystems. They are nocturnal, and during the day they stay in burrows or under logs or other cover. Think of them as secret agents. These toads work under the cover of darkness, but they are doing their part to control insect populations, keeping us safe from disease and possibly a little annoyance. An adult southern toad can eat up to 1000 insects in a day! They are a relatively common species, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need a little protection. In fact, we like them so much that we protect southern toads, other amphibians, reptiles, and their habitats in PARCAs, or Priority Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Areas, throughout the US. Southern toads benefit from proactive conservation, which prevents them from becoming rare due to habitat loss or fragmentation. If you like toads as much as we do, follow this account to stay up-to-date on all things amphibian and reptile conservation. Videos: 1. © Jeff Holmes 2. © Devin Welch #ARCProtects #SouthernToads #SouthernToad #Toads #AnaxyrusTerrestris #Anaxyrus (fb)