For the first time in over 10,000 years, the howl of a dire wolf is echoing once more—this time, from within a secretive nature preserve in the United States. The predator, long thought extinct and famously mythologized in pop culture like Game of Thrones, is back, thanks to genetic engineering.

Colossal, the company looking to bring back the woolly mammoth from extinction has born three dire wolves, an animal extinct for 13,000 years.

Colossal claimed the genetically engineered pups are the first dire wolves in 10,000 years. Scientists say they are impressive, but not an example of “de-extinction.”

Three genetically engineered wolves that may resemble extinct dire wolves are living in an undisclosed secure location in the U.S., according to researchers at Colossal Biosciences.

Dire wolves, made famous by “Game of Thrones,” went extinct some 13,000 years ago. Now, researchers have bred gray-wolf pups that carry genes of their ancient cousins.

The dire wolf is a relative of the now-common grey wolf, with clear differences apparent between the two species' skeletons. Based on the sequence of two new dire wolf genomes, the researchers at Colossal conclude that dire wolves formed a distinct branch within the canids over 2.

Colossal Biosciences says it used novel gene-editing technology to alter gray wolf DNA to breed the animals. Dire wolves recently featured prominently in the HBO series Game of Thrones.

Scientists working for Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences claim to have brought the dire wolf, which went extinct about 12,500 years ago, back to life.

Three white puppies were born in the last six months, each through surrogate domestic dogs who had no idea they were carrying an extinct species.