If you’ve noticed “the dodo” popping up everywhere lately, you’re not alone. Search interest has surged past 20,000 queries a month, and the reason is a fascinating two‑part story that bridges heartwarming animal content and cutting‑edge science. On one hand, The Dodo—the massively popular digital media brand dedicated to animal stories—is celebrating a decade of making people care about creatures big and small. On the other, the actual dodo bird is capturing headlines because of a star‑studded effort to bring the extinct species back to life. Here’s everything you need to know about why the dodo is having a moment in 2024.
How The Dodo’s 10th Anniversary Sparked a Global Happiness Campaign
March 20, 2024, marked a major milestone for animal lovers everywhere: The Dodo turned 10. To celebrate, the brand declared its anniversary “Dodo Day of Happy” and invited the internet to flood social media with “the happiest moment in your camera roll.” The initiative, announced by Vox Media, The Dodo’s parent company, was designed to spread joy through user‑generated animal videos and photos. For a platform built on emotionally compelling rescue stories and feel‑good pet content, the campaign perfectly captured The Dodo’s mission—to make caring about animals a viral cause.
Since its launch in January 2014 by Izzie Lerer, The Dodo has grown into a digital powerhouse, amassing tens of millions of followers across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Its formula—short, sharable videos that highlight animal resilience, adoption successes, and unexpected friendships—has resonated deeply with a global audience. The 10th‑anniversary celebration wasn’t just a look back; it was a reminder of how The Dodo has helped reshape the way we think about pets and wildlife. By turning its birthday into a participatory holiday, the brand reinforced its role as a community hub for animal people.
Truth or Dodo: A Celebrity‑Driven Show That’s Changing the Pet‑Interview Game
Just a few weeks after the anniversary buzz, The Dodo doubled down on its innovative content strategy with the launch of “Truth or Dodo,” a brand‑new celebrity interview show with a twist. Premiering May 1, 2024, the series pairs celebrities with their rescue pets for a game of truth‑or‑dare—or, as The Dodo calls it, “truth‑or‑dodo.” The first episode featured power couple Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, who answered personal questions while their two rescue pups, Penny and Pippa, stole the show.
According to Vox Media’s announcement, “Truth or Dodo” is part of a broader push to create original, high‑production‑value series that keep audiences engaged while promoting pet adoption. The show joins other successful Dodo franchises like “Dodo Dream Date,” which sets celebrities up on “blind dates” with shelter animals, and “Pittie Nation,” which advocates for pit‑bull‑type dogs. By blending celebrity access with authentic animal stories, The Dodo continues to expand its reach beyond viral clips into long‑form storytelling that drives real‑world impact.
From Viral Videos to Real‑World Impact: How The Dodo Drives Pet Adoption
It’s one thing to make people smile; it’s another to change lives. The Dodo has consistently used its platform to partner with shelters and rescue organizations, often featuring specific animals in need of homes. Stories like “Shelter Dog Was Too Depressed to Move Until Someone Finally Noticed Him” don’t just rack up millions of views—they lead to adoption inquiries and donations. In 2024, The Dodo also renewed its partnership with NBC’s “Clear the Shelters” campaign, a nationwide pet‑adoption drive that has found homes for nearly 170,000 animals over its 10‑year run.
Experts point to The Dodo’s emotionally intelligent storytelling as a key factor in its ability to move audiences from sentiment to action. By focusing on individual animals with names, personalities, and backstories, the brand creates a personal connection that generic awareness campaigns often miss. That connection translates into tangible results: shelters report spikes in adoption applications after a featured animal goes viral, and fundraising pages linked to Dodo stories regularly exceed their goals.
Why the Dodo Bird Is Back in the News: Celebrity Investments in De‑Extinction
While The Dodo brand was celebrating a decade of existence, the actual dodo bird was making headlines for a very different reason: a high‑profile effort to bring it back from extinction. In October 2024, “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson announced a $10 million investment in Colossal Biosciences, a biotechnology startup working to resurrect the dodo, woolly mammoth, and Tasmanian tiger. Jackson’s contribution joins funding from other celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Tiger Woods, and Tom Brady, who have all backed Colossal’s ambitious de‑extinction projects.
As reported by Forbes, Jackson’s investment is part of a broader trend of wealthy individuals putting money behind “conservation‑through‑technology” ventures. Colossal’s approach uses advanced gene‑editing tools like CRISPR to reconstruct the dodo’s genome from preserved remains, with the goal of eventually producing a living bird that can be reintroduced to its native habitat on Mauritius. The company argues that de‑extinction could help restore ecosystems and raise awareness about ongoing biodiversity loss—though the initiative has also sparked ethical debates about playing “Jurassic Park” with real species.
Timeline: Key Moments That Put the Dodo Back in the Spotlight
January 2014 – The Dodo website launches, founded by Izzie Lerer with a mission to create shareable animal content.
March 2024 – The Dodo celebrates its 10th anniversary with the “Dodo Day of Happy” campaign.
May 2024 – “Truth or Dodo” premieres, featuring Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.
October 2024 – Peter Jackson invests $10 million in Colossal Biosciences for dodo de‑extinction.
November 2024 – The Guardian publishes an opinion piece questioning the ethics and feasibility of bringing back the dodo.
Present day – The Dodo continues to release daily rescue stories, while Colossal advances its genetic research.
What the Experts Say: Balancing Hope and Reality in De‑Extinction
Scientific opinion on de‑extinction is divided. Proponents, like Colossal co‑founder George Church, argue that the technology could correct past human‑caused extinctions and provide tools to protect endangered species today. Critics, including many conservation biologists, worry that de‑extinction could divert resources from protecting existing wildlife and create unrealistic public expectations. In a Guardian commentary, writers noted that “celebrity‑funded de‑extinction projects risk turning conservation into a spectacle” and may overlook simpler, more effective ways to safeguard biodiversity.
Nevertheless, the cultural fascination with bringing back the dodo is undeniable. The bird, which went extinct in the late 17th century due to human activity, has become an icon of human‑driven loss—and now, potentially, of human‑driven redemption. For pet lovers, the story resonates on a deeper level: it’s about second chances, a theme that runs through every rescue story The Dodo publishes.
Where Things Stand Now: The Dodo’s Ongoing Influence and Next Steps
As of early 2025, The Dodo shows no signs of slowing down. The brand continues to dominate social‑media feeds with new heartwarming videos every day, and its partnership with NBC’s “Clear the Shelters” campaign is set to expand. Behind the scenes, the company is investing in more original series and exploring new platforms to reach even wider audiences. Meanwhile, Colossal Biosciences continues its work on dodo de‑extinction, with scientists estimating that a viable embryo could be possible within the next five to seven years.
For pet owners and animal enthusiasts, the dual story of the dodo offers a unique blend of inspiration and caution. On one side, we have a media brand that has turned animal advocacy into a global movement. On the other, we have a scientific endeavor that asks profound questions about our relationship with nature. Both remind us that our actions—whether sharing a video or funding a research project—can shape the future of the animals we love.
The Bottom Line: What the Dodo Trend Means for Pet Lovers
The surge in searches for “the dodo” isn’t a coincidence. It reflects two powerful currents in today’s pet and animal landscape: the hunger for uplifting, shareable animal content, and the growing curiosity about using technology to right past wrongs. The Dodo brand has mastered the art of connecting people with pets, driving adoption and advocacy through storytelling. At the same time, the real dodo’s potential return symbolizes a new frontier in human‑animal relationships—one where science and sentiment intersect.
Whether you’re a fan of rescue‑dog videos or fascinated by the prospect of seeing a dodo walk the Earth again, 2024 has shown that the dodo—both the brand and the bird—still has a lot to teach us about caring for the creatures that share our world.
