Members
The International De-Extinction Alliance boasts members from around the world, all with one goal: countering the Holocene extinction crisis.
Thomas Henry Huxley Paleozoological Gardens
Located on the southeastern coast of Australia, the Thomas Henry Huxley Paleozoological Gardens is the primary public showcase of our de-extinction efforts. Home to over 250 extinct species and witness to over 100,000 guests per year, it showcases a great range of prehistoric life, both chronologically and taxonomically.
Figueroa Institute
The Argentina-based Figueroa Institute is the world's leading institute in the extraction of ancient DNA from subfossil bones. In 2009, Alfonso Figuero and colleagues developed a nydrazine-method of DNA extraction. The Figueroa Institute manages protected reserves throughout the Americas for the reintroduction of mammalian and avian megafauna.
Genetic Lifeguards
Genetic Lifeguards is a global organization that aims to improve the genetic diversity of rare and endangered species. Genetic Lifeguards creates diversity using DNA from museum specimens and artificial diversification techniques. Both wild and captive populations have benefitted from Genetic Lifeguards' work.
Pacific Bird De-Extinction Project
A branch of Takahashi Corporation, the Pacific Bird De-Extinction Project works to restore avian ecosystems on Pacific islands. Through ancient DNA extraction, cloning and habitat protection, the PBDP works to bring back extinct birds in five countries. The PBDP manages outreach centers in New Zealand and Hawaii.
Pleistocene Park
Run by the father and son team of Sergei and Nikita Zimov, Pleistocene Park is a reserve in Siberia that aims to restore a Pleistocene environment. As well as reintroducting locally extinct species, it also provides a home for de-extinct ice age megafauna, such as woolly mammoths and saber-toothed cats.
Cuvier Genetics
Cuvier Genetics is one of the oldest de-extinction institutions, having been founded in 1999. The Paris-based institution has participated in the de-extinction of many Cenozoic animals. Cuvier also manages Monde Cenozoique, an innovative zoo that houses extinct animals alongside extant ones.
Quagga Project
Based in South Africa, the Quagga Project is an initiative to revive the quagga through the use of selective breeding of the closely-related Burchell's zebra. Through collaboration with other IDEA members, the project has successfully produced the Rau quagga, a zebra phenotype with heavily reduced striping.
Rhinoceros Rescue Foundation
Initiated in 2007, the Rhinoceros Rescue Foundation is a conservation organization focused on increasing imperiled rhinoceros populations. Alongside initiatives to increase rhinoceros populations and genetic diversity through cloning, it also seeks to curb the illegal rhinoceros horn trade.
Background image by Julio Lacerda, courtesy of Studio 252MYA.