Animal welfare organizations have expressed opposition to the practice of pet cloning. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) labeled it as highly problematic, while the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) stated that there is no justification for cloning animals for what they term “trivial purposes.”
However, cloning technology has potential applications in the conservation of endangered species. For example, researcher Dr. Bethany Wisely has focused on diversifying the gene pool of the critically endangered black-footed ferret, which has about 10,000 individuals descended from just seven founders. This limited genetic diversity can result in poor health and difficulties in reproduction and adaptation to environmental changes.
Wisely and her colleagues utilized frozen tissue samples from two additional ferrets to create clones, with the first one, named Elizabeth Ann, being born in 2020. Since then, several clones have been produced, and the team has started breeding these clones with descendants of the original ferrets. A similar cloning method has been applied to the endangered Przewalski’s horse, using tissue samples preserved by the San Diego Zoo. The long-term effects of these cloning efforts are still under evaluation, as researchers assess the behavior and survival capabilities of the cloned animals and their offspring in their natural habitats.
Despite these efforts, critics argue that cloning alone cannot prevent species extinction, as it does not address underlying issues such as habitat loss and human-wildlife conflicts. Some individuals also raise ethical concerns, accusing those who clone animals of “playing God.” Wisely herself has stated that, despite her involvement in cloning for conservation, she would not clone her own pets and instead encourages adopting rescue animals.
Source: https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/11/07/1127692/cloning-celebrity-pets-tom-brady-dog-conservation/