898: Forrest Galante | Seeking Unicorns and Resurrecting the Dodo
Sep 19, 2023
auto_awesome
Forrest Galante, a daring wildlife biologist and explorer, shares his thrilling adventures seeking out 'lost' species. He reveals the mysteries of the world's largest snakes and the bizarre behaviors of orcas. Forrest discusses the ambitious quest to resurrect extinct creatures like the dodo and woolly mammoth, diving into the science behind de-extinction and its implications for conservation. With humor and urgency, he emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and the challenges faced in protecting our ecosystems.
Exploring remote locations and challenging assumptions can lead to rediscovering "lost" species thought to be extinct.
Discovering new species in unexplored areas highlights the vast diversity of biodiversity.
The genetic engineering of extinct species has the potential to restore environments, regulate diseases, and combat climate change.
Collaboration among scientists, researchers, and conservationists is crucial for effective conservation efforts.
Deep dives
Searching for Lost Species
In this episode, the host and guest discuss the search for lost species and the importance of not assuming extinction based on limited data. The guest shares his experiences in finding nine species that were previously thought to be extinct, including a long-nosed yellow crocodilian and a blind snake. The discussion highlights the need for exploration and innovative techniques, such as collecting DNA from leeches and ticks, to uncover hidden biodiversity.
Exploring the Songdo Cave System
The guest describes his expedition to the Songdo Cave System in Vietnam, which is known for its massive size and unique weather system. The team searched for the elusive Saola, also known as the Asian unicorn, a bovid species that was thought to be extinct. The discussion highlights the difficulties of accessing remote locations and the importance of challenging assumptions about species extinction.
The Impact of Conflict on Exploration
The conversation touches on how conflict and war can hinder exploration of certain areas, such as the control of territory by groups like FARC in Colombia. The guest recounts his experience of exploring regions previously inaccessible due to conflict, and how the end of such conflicts opened up opportunities to discover thriving populations of crocodilians and other species.
The Surprises of Species Discovery
The guest shares surprises encountered during species discovery, including finding a new species of moth in the Amazon rainforest. The conversation highlights the vast diversity of unexplored areas and the innovative techniques, like DNA analysis and environmental sampling, that are expanding our understanding of biodiversity.
The Possibility of Reviving Extinct Species through DNA Engineering
Colossal Biosciences, a large company headed by Ben Lamb and George Church, is working on bringing back extinct species through DNA engineering. The company aims to revive animals such as the woolly mammoth, the thylacine, and the dodo bird in our lifetime. This has significant conservation implications, as it can help restore environments, regulate diseases, and combat climate change. The process involves genetically modifying the DNA of the closest living relatives of these species, such as the Indian elephant for the woolly mammoth, and then breeding these animals to give birth to the recreated extinct species.
Conservation and Ethical Considerations
The reintroduction of extinct species raises ethical and conservation concerns. It is important to ensure that the reintroduction is done responsibly and with minimal human involvement. Conservation efforts should be focused on creating controlled environments, monitoring populations, and preventing negative interactions with other species or human activities. Careful management and education will be necessary to address any unintended consequences and ensure the success of reintroduction programs.
The Collaborative Nature of Conservation Efforts
Conservation efforts require collaboration among scientists, researchers, and conservationists. While there may be competition and egos involved, the ultimate goal is to work together to protect species and the environment. Companies like Colossal Biosciences rely on a team of experts, including geneticists, conservation advisors, and others, to develop comprehensive conservation management plans for reintroducing extinct species. Collaboration is key to address diverse perspectives, pool resources, and make informed decisions that benefit both wildlife and humanity.
Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante rejoins us to discuss rediscovering "lost" species and why we should resurrect the dodo, thylacine, and woolly mammoth.
What We Discuss with Forrest Galante:
What's Forrest been up to since his last visit to this show? Just milking venomous sea snakes and trying to find out why orcas are slaughtering great white sharks en masse.
Where are the world's biggest snakes found, and do they ever eat people?
What did Forrest find inside the world's largest cave — besides a variety of isolated ecosystems with their own weather systems?
Why following leads for unknown or thought-to-be-extinct species isn't tinfoil hat territory — and the clever ways Forrest and his team track them.
How likely is it that science will be used to resurrect extinct species like the woolly mammoth, dodo bird, and thylacine in the near future — and how does this ambitious goal fit into the conservation of existing ecosystems?
