Colossal Biosciences’ Dire Wolves Turn One: Romulus and Remus at 120 Pounds and Growing

At over 120 pounds each and thriving on a 2,000-acre preserve, Romulus and Remus marked their first year alive as Colossal also confirmed a breakthrough in pigeon primordial germ cell culturing for the dodo project.

Romulus and Remus are one. Colossal Biosciences’ dire wolves celebrated their first birthday on October 1, 2025, each now weighing more than 120 pounds and consuming over five pounds of meat daily from a diet of venison, beef, whole rabbits, and bones, on a 2,000-acre ecological preserve certified by the American Humane Society and monitored around the clock by veterinarians, drones, and live cameras. The birthday was marked with a custom cake from a San Francisco luxury dog bakery and a rock anthem from Emmy Award-winning musicians Stan Bush and Lenny Macaluso.

Beth Shapiro, Colossal’s chief science officer, said the animals are thriving and the gene edits worked as expected. Separately, pigeon primordial germ cells were successfully cultured, a milestone CEO Ben Lamm estimated puts a dodo revival five to seven years away.

This story is based on original reporting by Moná Thomas for People. Read the full feature on People → https://people.com/de-extinct-dire-wolves-celebrate-first-birthday-with-doggy-cake-music-video-11822208