Often, however, clones die at birth. In 2003, the first extinct animal was born, a type of ibex which became extinct in 2000 (BBC). The baby died minutes after birth due to a lung abnormality, but scientists weren't worried; after dissecting the child to see what had gone wrong, they decided to start all over again. Despite the enormous amount of negative speculation, the practice of de-extinction could potentially produce some positive consequences. According to Stewart Brand, a writer for National Geographic, humans should bring back extinct species “to preserve biodiversity, restore diminished ecosystems… and undo the damage humans have caused in the past.” If humans were to tamper with nature and bring an extinct animal back to life, desolate ecosystems that previously thrived, such as desert islands, could be partially restored through their