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One of the driving motivations behind de-extinction is the ecological ripple effect caused by extinction. When a species disappears, it often triggers a chain reaction that destabilizes food webs and harms other species. By reintroducing certain keystone species, scientists hope to restore balance to ecosystems that have been disrupted.
For example, the woolly mammoth is believed to play a crucial role in maintaining the tundra ecosystem by preventing the overgrowth of trees and shrubs, which in turn affects climate regulation. Similarly, resurrecting the Tasmanian tiger might help control certain prey populations in its native habitat.