Oscar-winning filmmaker Sir Peter Jackson and his wife Fran Walsh have invested $10 million in Colossal Biosciences, a Texas-based company aiming to bring extinct species like the dodo and woolly mammoth back to life.
The company, founded by entrepreneur Ben Lamm and geneticist George Church, has garnered $235 million in total from prominent figures, including athletes Tom Brady and Tiger Woods, and business tycoons like Thomas Tull.
Jackson told legacy media his investment was driven by his interest in preserving endangered species, particularly those native to New Zealand, and supporting biodiversity restoration efforts.
Colossal Biosciences, launched in 2021, is working on genetic technologies to revive species such as the dodo, which went extinct in the 17th century due to deforestation and human hunting.
While some scientists and environmentalists question the practicality and priorities of these efforts, Jackson and other supporters view it as a potential solution to restore damaged ecosystems.
The company has partnered with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation to explore releasing the dodo back into its native habitat on Mauritius.
