Resurrection biology

Eeuuurrgh. I'm not looking at that.

Interesting article. In terms of drawng in people who might otherwise not have been interested in conservation, opening up opportunities to halt extinction in endangered species, and bringing back species that could help the ecology of depleted forests and plains, I'm in favour of it. Absolutely fascinated about the woolly mammoth findngs recently, where blood has been found that could be used for cloning. It needs careful exploration, but scientists coud be doing our planet some favours here.

I think that on balance this is being sdold as an over-simplified idea. Jurassic Park is not real life! To clone using an extinct species' DNA yhou would need to find its closest modern equivalent species to provide the ovum, and then selectively breed from the cloned outcome to get back as close to the desired result as possible. And then you would have animals with an extremely limited genetic pool...

Introducing your new species would probably unbalance the local ecology too.

As the article pointed out, we already have animals with an extremely limited gene pool. Probably more than we realise.

I don't think the idea is over-simplified. The article explains the complexity quite well. And the science is exploratory – it's about finding out, as science should be.

Don't expect woolly mammoths in zoos any time soon.

I think insatiable human curiosity is great.

So long as I don't get sabre toothed tigers invading my Garden along with the local moggies

I like the quote from Jurassic Park "Just because we can doesn't mean we should"

If extinct species are "brought back", where would they be kept? If they are released into the wild they would upset the existing eco system, if they are kept in zoos, isn't that cruel.

I believe we should be concentrating on maintaining the species we now have and are in danger of losing.

Re-introduction is bad enough! I do not want sea eagles anywhere near me!

What a strange thing to say!

Besides, you won't.

Sea eagles

in the south-east?!!

Get real.

There has been a campaign going for some time against the proposed 're-introduction of sea eagles into Suffolk. So "get real" right back at you missus.

That's interesting. How far have they got with the campaign? Can you supply a link to some information?

It's OK, I found some info. It seems the scheme was scrapped two years ago.

Why don't you want to see white-tailed eagles near you, by the way?

Will link later when I can get on desktop desktop puter. Not easy on Fire.

Think young farm animals, small birds, and daft people feeding them. It will be like the red tailedkites. Getting aggressive for food in domestic situations.

Well, I certainly sympathise about daft people feeding them. Sad that so many of us are so stupid.

Pretty sure scheme only postponed due to lack of funds. They mentioned it in a "hopeful" way on Springwatch the other day.

I love sea eagles, they're a regular sight in Southern African coastal areas, where they are called "fish eagles". I love that plaintive, evocative cry. www.stluciaaccommodation.co.za/birds-of-south-africa.php?id=0 At least, having seen a sea eagle, I think it's the same bird.

African Fish Eagle = Haliaeetus vocifer

Sea (or white-tailed) Eagle = Haliaeetus albicilla

Thanks, Bags!