Mumbai, India. While fans of Game of Thrones were fascinated by direwolves, real-world scientists were working on bringing some of Earth’s most endangered species back from the brink of extinction.
One such story has been captured in the Indian docu-series “The Resurrection Quest” by filmmaker Mayurica Biswas, which recently won the prestigious Gold Dolphin Award at the 16th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards for science, technology, and innovation storytelling.
The series follows the cutting-edge scientific efforts happening around the world to save and even resurrect species that are vanishing.
From northern white rhinos to woolly mammoths and extinct birds, Biswas takes viewers on a journey that explores animal cloning, gene editing, IVF technology, and even the Chinese trend of cloning pet dogs.
Saving the Northern White Rhino
One of the most gripping stories in the series is the struggle to save the northern white rhino, of which only two females remain after decades of poaching.
Neither could conceive nor carry a pregnancy successfully. Scientists had preserved over 30 embryos, but faced many challenges.
“The original surrogate rhino passed away during a flood, and a tiny foetus was found during postmortem, showing that conception was possible,” Biswas explains.
Because rhino eggs cannot be frozen and transporting a 2,500-kg animal is impossible, scientists used a southern white rhino as a surrogate, creating one of the most daring experiments in animal conservation history.
Exploring Global Efforts
Biswas, a former journalist at Storyteller Films, traveled across eight countries—including Kenya, China, Singapore, Germany, Siberia, the Czech Republic, the UAE, and the USA—to capture these scientific feats.
She visited ice caves in Siberia, pet cloning labs, and wild landscapes, highlighting the human stories behind the science.
“The moments that matter most are the human emotions—the biologist obsessed with resurrecting an extinct pigeon, the vet guilt-ridden over a pet’s death, the father-son team racing against melting permafrost,” Biswas says. “For these people, resurrection isn’t abstract—it’s deeply personal.”
The Ethics and Technology of De-Extinction
The series also examines the ethical and technological challenges of bringing extinct or nearly extinct species back to life. From the ivory trade to gene editing, the show explores how science is pushing boundaries:
- Gene editing and stem cells could allow humans to create embryos without the traditional male-female reproduction process.
- Tissue samples from woolly mammoth fossils are being studied to produce elephants adapted to Arctic conditions.
Despite the scientific marvels, Biswas emphasizes that the series does not provide simple answers. It explores uncertainty, contradictions, and the awe-inspiring reality of living in a world where humans can manipulate genes but still struggle to protect ecosystems.
The Indian Team Behind the Series
The Mumbai-based production was led by Mayurica Biswas, with Radhika Chandrashekhar as creative director, Tushar Ghogale as series editor, and Kartik Thapliyal as cinematographer, showcasing India’s growing presence in high-quality science and technology storytelling.
“The Resurrection Quest** celebrates the extraordinary efforts of scientists while exploring the emotional stakes of conservation, pushing audiences to think about what it means to save life on Earth in the 21st century,” Biswas says.
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