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Short abstract:

This paper examines and critiques how the biotechnological process of reviving extinct species perpetuates neocolonial power structures at the expense of global extraction sites.

Long abstract:

This paper critically examines de-extinction, or the transformative process of recreating extinct species through biotechnology, and its neocolonial implications. We argue that de-extinction narratives, while promising ecological restoration and reparation for the damages caused by colonialism, perpetuate neocolonial power structures. De-extinction projects drive benefits to Western technoscientific industries at the expense of historically colonised extraction sites, thereby replicating colonial power dynamics through contemporary technoscience. Focusing on the woolly mammoth, thylacine, and northern white rhino, we trace the flow of these technoscientific networks from Western scientific hubs (e.g., in the US, the UK, and Europe) to extraction sites in the Arctic, Tasmania, and Kenya respectively. We employ a postcolonial approach to 1) analyse the historical and ongoing impacts of colonialism and neocolonial technoscience in these regions, including resource and data extraction (Wrigley, 2023), labour exploitation (Frei, 2018), and exclusionary conservation practices (Bersaglio and Margulies, 2021); and 2) critique dominant Western narratives that frame de-extinction as an exclusively benevolent, reparative science. Our methodology involves database development and digital mapping to document and trace the relationships between actors, networks, and materials in de-extinction projects. Our analysis is informed by scholars such as Kashwan et al. (2021), Duffy (2022), and Dowie (2009), who highlight the persistence of colonialism and racism in global conservation philosophies and practices. By challenging dominant perspectives, our study reveals the complex interplay between de-extinction, ecological revival, and the perpetuation of colonial power structures. This insight is crucial for understanding the broader implications of biotechnological transformations on a global scale.