Trump’s team uses the wolf’s “de-extinction” as a reason to reduce the list of endangered species

Fifteen days ago, an announcement of the American start-up colossal biosciences continued to debate, especially in the scientific environment. The company claims to have recreated the legendary large white wolf or «dire wolf»either the «loup terrible» in French. Although Dog dread Disappeared approximately 10,000 years ago, the researchers of Colossal BioSciences claim to have managed to give birth to three cubs of this former predator by modifying the genetic sequence of the DNA of the gray wolf.

The biotechnology company, founded in 2021 and based in Dallas (Texas), aims to “resurrect” missing animals using advanced genetic editing technologies. She thus describes the cubs that she managed to give birth to as the first cases of “Dé-extinction” of a living species. Many scientists have been skeptical about the possibility of integrating his cubs into a disappeared species. And despite the numerous criticisms, this scientific feat seems to arrange the administration of Donald Trump.

“Advent of a new era”

Doug Burgum, interior secretary, hastened to declare that this success demonstrates that it is not the government regulations that will save species, but scientific innovation. “It is time to radically change our way of conceiving the preservation of species. In the future, we must celebrate the withdrawals of the list of endangered species, not additions ”he wrote on X. “Since the dawn of our nation, it is innovation, not regulations, which has made American greatness. The Renaissance of the saying Wolf announces the advent of an exciting new era of scientific wonders, illustrating how the concept of “de-extinction” can serve as a foundation for the modern conservation of species. ”

The interior secretary has already met colossal biosciences to talk about the use of his animals in federal conservation efforts, as well as for the potential restoration of species. “If the disappearance of a species anxious, we now have the opportunity to revive it”he assured employees of the Ministry of the Interior at a public meeting broadcast live Wednesday. “Choose your favorite species and call Colossal.”

However, by following this reasoning, if no more species is truly in danger of extinction, the American government can lift the restrictions supposed to protect the endangered species. And even before the announcement concerning the recreation of «dire wolf»the administration of Donald Trump had started taking measures to overthrow the protection regime, in place since the adoption of the endangered species law in 1973.

Redefine the notion of “harm” a species

On Monday, the Fish and Wildlife Service, which depends on Doug Burgum, submitted a proposal to the White House aimed at redefining the concept of “harming” a species within the meaning of the law. Although no details have been made public, environmentalists have expressed their concern about the possibility that a change in the rule leads to increased destruction of habitats. “If this is what they intend to do, it will only fundamentally undermine the law on endangered species”according to Noah Greenwald of the NGO Center for biological diversity, quoted by the Washington Post .

Still according to the Washington daily, with the control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Republicans in the Congress hope to go further by consolidating the changes made to the Disappearance Species Act. They would put pressure in order to remove from the list of endangered species the Nordic bat (which lives in the forests that the wood industry wishes to exploit), the lezard of the armoises (who live in the Texan oil regions) as well as the gray wolf and the grizzly grizzly which, according to the breeders, are attacking the cattle.

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The day of his inauguration, Donald Trump had also signed a memorandum declaring that he «made people pass before the fish » and ended “To environmental radicalism”. In February, the Ministry of the Interior canceled the directives of President Joe Biden, who asked the petroleum and gas industry to slow down navigation in the Gulf of Mexico in order to avoid hitting Rice whales, one of the most threatened marine mammal species in the ocean which does not even have a hundred individuals. Many other examples could be cited.

«God Squad»

But the most radical measure adopted by Donald Trump to date is the revival of a long inactive committee, empowered to go beyond the protections of endangered species, nicknamed by environmentalists «God Squad» (or the squadron of God). Composed of Doug Burgum and five other senior officials, this committee may approve projects even if they lead to the extinction of a species. Officially called “Threatened species committee”this group has rarely gathered.

In a declaration at Washington Postinterior ministry spokesperson J. Elizabeth Peace, said Doug Burgum “Values ​​collaboration and dialogue with a range of partners”including colossal biosciences, to whom the interior secretary visited in March. “We remain determined to explore all scientific options that can help strengthen () endangered species”she added.

Among the skeptics of “Dé-extinction”there has long been a fear that attempts to use biotechnology to revive missing species justify the right to weaken the necessary protections for plants and animals. Julie Meachen, paleontologist at the University of Monks who participated in research on the detangling of the genome of the «dire wolf»fears that the administration of Donald Trump will use the idea that animals can be brought back to life “Like a carte blanche to remove all threatened species from the list”.