Should we bring back the woolly mammoth?

Probably not as a priority. The strongest case for a woolly mammoth is the possibility of helping Arctic ecosystems and advancing genetics, but the risks are real: huge costs, animal-welfare concerns, and unpredictable effects on a very different modern environment.

Best argument for it:

• Could support climate and ecosystem restoration if it helped slow permafrost thaw.
• Might speed up tools that also help endangered species.

Best argument against it:

• The money and effort could save living species right now.
• Asian elephant surrogacy raises serious ethical issues.
• A mammoth-like animal could upset fragile Arctic habitats.

Bottom line: bring back the science, not the mammoth itself—at least until there’s strong evidence it would do more good than harm.