Last semester I took a survey course in Anthropology. Extinction events were sprinkled into discussion through-out the course, a main point being that they are inevitabilities from the perspective of "deep time." My thoughts never failed to meander in the concept: 'Geez, I wonder what that will look like when the next one hits.' or some small prayer of thanks that I haven't had to and hopefully won't witness one. But reading this bit spoke volumes on the contrary to my thoughts. Ah, man. This was so well put. In my view, the de-extinction initiatives are nigh naive, albeit the epitome of human innovation. Breathing life back into that which is dead, leaving it less and less space to live out its second life is only to allow us to relive and outlast its life for a second time around. If I didn't know any better, then I'd say it an childish attempt to take back what we've lost in an utmost unproductive form of grieving. But I do know better. So I won't say that. As is my nature, I'm of a mind to think the only course of action is to observe and let time guide us to seeing how it all resolves - if science or our tale even yields "resolutions" in Mankind's epic biography. I'm exceedingly curious to know what is to come en masse. If I had the ability to slap on a community tag, then I'd throw up a #thehumancondition. Alas, my time has yet to come! Phenomenal read. Thank you for sharing. :)But even for people less intimate with him did his life and demise serve as a reminder of the mass extinction of species currently underway—the sixth in earth’s history but the only one caused by humans.
I would love to know woolly mammoths were lumbering across Siberia again. But some proponents of de-extinction act as if existence is the only problem these species face. De-extinction alone does not address the causes of extinction, the condition of habitats, or the quality of species’ lives. We cannot refreeze the Arctic tundra, former home of the woolly mammoth, nor can we postpone the arrival of spring, which climate change impels to come earlier every year. We cannot resurrect the cold snap that once prevented the mountain pine beetle from destroying northern forests. There is no satisfactory way to wipe the record clean.