The Economic Times

In 1981, a dog in Wyoming accidentally killed a small creature. This ironically, brought back an almost extinct species. Decades later, cloning is keeping its genes alive

More than 40 years ago, a dog unexpectedly killed an animal which was believed to have become extinct a black-footed ferret. This discovery led to a remarkable conservation initiative. From just 18 known survivors, hundreds have now been reintroduced across the Great Plains. Decades later, scientists even cloned the species using cells preserved in a freezer for years.