Hemsworth brothers back Melbourne University project to bring Tasmanian tiger back to life

A Melbourne-based push to bring the extinct Tasmanian tiger back to life has secured some high-powered Hollywood backing.

Thor is on a mission to bring the Tassie tiger back to life.

Aussie movie star Chris Hemsworth, who plays the God of Thunder in the Marvel movies, and his brothers Luke and Liam are behind a company which is now investing in a Melbourne University project to revive the thylacine.

The Tasmanian tiger has been extinct for almost a century but Professor Andrew Pask and his researchers believe they can rebuild the animal.

Texas-based genetic engineering company Colossal Biosciences is backing the “de-extinction” project which could bring help halve the expected 10-year target for a thylacine to be alive again.

A modern 3D rendering of the extinct thylacine.

Colossal last year announced plans to de-extinct the woolly mammoth and the thylacine is its second project.

The Hemsworth brothers are among Colossal’s investors.

“Our family remains dedicated to supporting conservationist efforts around the world and protecting Australia’s biodiversity is a high priority,’’ Chris Hemsworth said.

“The Tassie tiger’s extinction had a devastating effect on our ecosystem and we are thrilled to support the revolutionary conservation efforts that are being made by Dr Pask and the entire Colossal team.”

Professor Pask, from the university’s School of BioSciences, told the Herald Sun that Colossal’s input would supercharge the project which has echoes of Jurassic Park.

No longer science fiction: $5M gift brings de-extinction of the thylacine one step closer @AJ_Pask@SciMelb

→ https://t.co/ckMXZAdLyipic.twitter.com/b1RgFQEQtJ

— UniMelb Newsroom (@uommedia) March 1, 2022

“Colossal has this incredible, next-generation DNA editing at their genetic engineering site.

“It’s really where they’ve pioneered this entire space. So having access to that team of people and that skill set is absolutely phenomenal.

“We’ve got the best team in the world possible on board trying to work now bringing the thylacine back.’’

Professor Andrew Pask is leading the project to bring the Tassie Tiger back to life. Picture: David Caird

The Herald Sun revealed in March the plans to “de-extinct” the Tassie Tiger with the aim to have the species back in the wild within 10 years, and also open the door to bring back other animals that had become extinct.

“It’s been non-stop since that big announcement,’’ Prof Pask said.

An initial $5m donation from the Wilson Family Trust helped create the TIGRR (Thylacine Integrated Genetic Restoration Research) Lab.

I am beyond excited to announce TIGRR lab! Supported by a $5M donation from the Wilson Family Trust to support Marsupial conservation and restoration. Developing the technology to bring back the thylacine. @BioSci_UniMelb@UniMelbhttps://t.co/nRrhiNLAEZpic.twitter.com/6XC9O6mkI9

— Andrew Pask (@AJ_Pask) March 1, 2022

The “de-extinction” process involves using surviving DNA material to make an embryo which will be transplanted into a uterus of a surrogate animal such as a dunnart, a mouse-sized marsupial.

Professor Pask said the Colossal investment meant it might even be possible to grow the embryo in a culture.

His team of 10 will expand at Melbourne, as well as an extra 15 dedicated Colossal researchers in the US.

Colossal co-founder and chief executive Ben Lamm said the Hemsworths and other celebrities and activists were enthusiastic about the de-extinction work.

“The Hemsworth family has done a lot in broader marsupial conservation, and they are leading the charge in returning the Tasmanian devil back to the mainland and creating a population outside of Tasmania.’’

Mr Lamm said that unlike the woolly mammoth work, the genome sequencing for the thylacine was advanced.

Ben Lamm is one of the founders of Colossal.

“And gestation is very different. With the mammoth, you’re looking at 22 months of gestation, and with the thylacine, we’re looking at 12 to 14 days, which we can then leverage really quick iterations.

“It (thylacine) is really the perfect species for us to work in parallel.

“With our planet’s biodiversity at risk, we will continue to contribute scientific resources to preserving the species and ecosystems necessary to sustain life.”

Prof Pask refuted criticisms that he was “playing God” and that the project was not conserving existing species.

“On the playing God side, I always say we play God all the time; we play God when we wipe them out; we play God when we make vaccines, we’re constantly playing God.

“So why draw the line in the sand on this when this is actually doing something really good. “We’re bringing back this animal to help stabilise that entire ecosystem, and that’s incredibly important.

“Also, we’re developing conservation tools that will be applicable right now, to help save marsupial species from further loss.’’

He also said the investment in the project was not taking conservation money and was adding to funding in animal preservation.’’