We love to imagine how biotechnology might one day enhance our fleshy bodies, but too often, Earth’s wildlife are left out of the future entirely. Enter Kathryn Fleming’s future zoo, filled with a menagerie of fantastical, slightly disturbing, genetically modified mutants.
With last year’s sobering news that 40% of all wild vertebrates have disappeared from the planet, and many experts saying the sixth mass extinction is upon us, the future for Earth’s wildlife often looks grim.
But we’re also entering a new era of biotechnology, with genetic tools that might allow us to create species from scratch or The “Superbivore”
Part giraffe, moose, deer, and maybe a few other things, this rather ungainly-looking “superbivore” uses its augmented hooves to climb over rocks and along wires. You wouldn’t want to get in a tussle with those antlers. This canine-feline hybrid predator uses its metallic pelt to bounce light right back at you. You’ll never know its coming — until, of course, it rips you to pieces with its Pleistocene style, saber-tooth fangs. You can learn more about Fleming’s quest to reimagine wildlife and future zoos on her website.
The Retro-Reflective Carnivore
