Inside plan to bring BACK extinct Tasmanian tiger wiped out nearly a century ago – with help from Chris Hemsworth
THOR heartthrob Chris Hemsworth is supporting a wild attempt to bring back an extinct tiger almost a century after it was wiped out.
The Tasmanian tiger disappeared in 1936 but scientists want to "de-extinct" the creature.
Chris, 39, along with actor brothers Luke, 41, and Liam, 32, are investors in Australian genetic engineering company Colossal Bioscience which is leading the multi-million dollar project.
The same team has previously spoke of plans to revive the woolly mammoth.
But in just 10 years' time, experts hope to welcome the first living baby Tasmanian tiger - officially known as thylacine.
The last known of its kind died in the 1930s, after the species was hunted to extinction.
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Colossal claim the massive mission can be done by using stem cells and special gene-editing technology.
"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," said Ben Lamm, one of Colassal's founders, according to .
"I got connected to Chris and Luke when we were raising our Series A and decided to invest in the company.
"They were incredibly passionate about not just the return of the thylacine but how the technologies Colossal is developing can be used to help with marsupial conservation and gestation. We could not be more excited for their support and involvement."
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Thor star Chris said his family is dedicated to supporting conservationist efforts around the world, especially closer to home in Australia.
"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," he explained.
If the team succeeds, they'll be the first to "de-extinct" a species.
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But other experts are sceptical.
Professor Jeremy Austin from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA told the that the idea is a "fairytale science".
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