George R.R. Martin, the legendary author behind A Song of Ice and Fire, recently experienced a moment straight out of his fantasy novels.
The man who brought dire wolves to life in Westeros found himself face-to-face with their real-world counterparts. This is all thanks to a groundbreaking scientific achievement by Colossal Biosciences.
THE DIRE WOLVES RETURN
The encounter left George R.R. Martin emotional, even bringing him to tears.
Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based biotech company, has made headlines for its ambitious mission to resurrect extinct species.
Using advanced gene-editing technology, the company successfully created three wolf pups with traits closely resembling the extinct dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus).
These Ice Age predators vanished roughly 13,000 years ago but were immortalised in popular culture through HBO’s Game of Thrones, based on Martin’s books.
CONSERVING EXISTING SPECIES
The pups—two males named Romulus and Remus and a female named Khaleesi—were born in late 2024 and early 2025.
The journey began when filmmaker Peter Jackson, an investor in Colossal, urged Martin to contact the company.
“Peter called me with a mysterious suggestion,” Martin shared on his blog.
“He couldn’t tell me much but insisted I speak to Ben Lamm [Colossal’s co-founder]. I’m so glad I made that call.” Months later, in February 2025, Martin visited Colossal’s facility to meet the pups.
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN AND THE DIRE WOLVES
George R.R. Martin described the moment as surreal. “Holding a dire wolf—something I thought could only exist in my imagination—was one of the most moving experiences of my life,” he said.
Photos show him cradling one of the pups, visibly overwhelmed. Ben Lamm revealed that Martin was deeply emotional during the visit.
“He cried,” Lamm said. “He told us it was one of the greatest things he’d ever seen.”
ANCIENT ANCESTORS
The dire wolf pups are not exact replicas of their ancient ancestors but hybrids created by inserting DNA from dire wolf fossils into grey wolf embryos.
The result is animals with thicker fur, longer tails, and larger builds than modern wolves.
Colossal’s work has sparked debate within the scientific community, with some critics arguing that these creatures are not actual dire wolves but genetically modified grey wolves.
However, the achievement remains a significant milestone in de-extinction science.
GEORGE R.R. MARTIN’S LOVE FOR DIRE WOLVES
Martin’s fascination with dire wolves dates back decades. A visit to Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits inspired their inclusion in his novels, according to Sky News.
“Seeing hundreds of dire wolf skulls displayed on a wall stirred something deep inside me,” he recalled.
This inspiration led to the iconic scene in Game of Thrones where Stark children discover dire wolf pups in the snow.
For South African readers, this story resonates as a testament to humanity’s evolving relationship with nature and technology.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
While South Africa is known for its conservation efforts with species like rhinos and cheetahs, de-extinction raises new possibilities for preserving biodiversity globally.
Reflecting on the experience, Martin mused: “The rebirth of the dire wolf has moved me like no scientific news since Neil Armstrong walked on the moon.”
Fans may still be waiting for The Winds of Winter, but they can now marvel at this real-life chapter of magic meeting science.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SCIENTISTS BRINGING BACK EXTINCT ANIMALS LIKE DIRE WOLVES?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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