Scientists in China have successfully cloned the world’s first arctic wolf, Maya, and unveiled her to the world on Monday Sep. 26.
Maya was part of a cloning project that started in 2020 by the Beijing-based company Sinogene Biotechnology in collaboration with the theme park Harbin Polarland.
“After two years of painstaking efforts, the arctic wolf was cloned successfully. It is the first case of its kind in the world,” the general manager of Sinogene said, according to the BBC.
Maya was born using the same technology that helped cloned Dolly the Sheep, the first successfully cloned animal, in the 1990s.
85 embryos were placed in the uteri of seven beagles, and Maya’s was the only embryo that survived the process, according to Chinese media.
She was born on June 10 and shown to the world almost 100 days later.
Maya is still living with her mother, the beagle but will be moved to the theme park later on.
Another arctic wolf is expected soon.
Animal organizations in China hope that the project can help lead conservation efforts and protect wildlife.
