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Which living bird is a close relative of the extinct dodo?

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Replica of a woolly mammoth with long curved tusks and shaggy fur on display in a museum exhibit, set against a dramatic painted landscape backdrop. — de-extinction The woolly mammoth (*Mammuthus primigenius*)—represented here by a replica in a Canadian museum—is an example of an extinct species that someday could be resurrected through de-extinction.

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a member of the order Columbiformes, which also includes pigeons and doves.12

Within the context of modern de-extinction research, the Nicobar pigeon (Caloenas nicobarica) is identified as the closest living relative of the dodo. Scientists are currently utilizing the Nicobar pigeon's genome and primordial germ cells in efforts to explore the possibility of recreating dodo-like physical characteristics through advanced biotechnology and gene editing.2

It is important to note that while these scientific advancements are significant, the ethics of de-extinction remain a subject of intense debate, as manipulating natural history and resurrecting extinct species raises profound questions about our responsibility toward the environment and the integrity of ecosystems.2