Kris Stewart now has in her possession two clones of her late feline companion, Bear, who passed away two years ago.
In her Kelowna residence, Kris Stewart is captured holding her two cloned kittens, named Bear Bear and Honey Bear. (CBC)
Image Courtesy: CBC News
After two years and four unsuccessful attempts, a ragdoll cat belonging to a resident of Kelowna, B.C., has been effectively cloned. Kris Stewart received not just one, but two kittens cloned using DNA from her beloved cat, Bear. Stewart shared that she entrusted Bear’s DNA to ViaGen, a Texas-based pet cloning company, following his demise in a traffic accident in January 2022. “I just felt like there was more life to be lived by Bear,” expressed Stewart.
According to Kerry Bowman, a bioethicist at the University of Toronto, the cloning process involves the insertion of the animal’s DNA into an embryo, which is then transferred to the uterus of a surrogate cat for gestation and birth. The kittens, affectionately named Bear Bear and Honey Bear by Stewart, were born on Jan. 10. After spending eight weeks with their surrogate mother at the company’s New York facility, Stewart finally brought them home on Wednesday. “They both exhibit traits reminiscent of Bear,” she remarked. “These little ones are bold and spirited.”
Ten days ago, Kris Stewart successfully cloned her beloved ragdoll cat, Bear, who passed away in 2022, following two years and four failed attempts. She received two cloned kittens from Texas-based pet cloning company ViaGen, which she named Bear Bear and Honey Bear. Stewart described Bear as lively and exceptionally intelligent. “Bear was, I believe, the most intelligent animal I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I’ve had pets since the age of two.”
According to Bowman, fewer than five percent of cloned animals survive childbirth. He noted that cloned animals typically exhibit a diminished lifespan and may manifest abnormalities, such as enlarged organs. Stewart revealed that four attempts at embryo transfer failed prior to the birth of Bear Bear and Honey Bear, resulting in a total expenditure of approximately $50,000. Nevertheless, she is “ecstatic” to have her new kittens, whom she asserts share certain resemblances to Bear.
The world’s inaugural animal clone, Dolly the Sheep, was born in Scotland in 1996. Bowman reveals that since then, commercial pet cloning has surged in popularity, with celebrities like Barbra Streisand publicly discussing their encounters. However, he underscores the ongoing debate regarding the ethical implications of cloning pets. “We’re confronted with an abundance of animals in shelters, and with regards to cats, some still face euthanasia,” noted Bowman. He also highlighted the hazards faced by surrogate mothers carrying clones, as well as the elevated rates of miscarriages and stillbirths among clones. “Animals cannot provide consent for anything.” ViaGen conveyed in an email statement to CBC News that it boasts thousands of clients worldwide, including roughly a dozen in Canada.
Kris Stewart revealed that four attempts at embryo transfer were unsuccessful prior to the birth of Bear Bear and Honey Bear. (CBC) Bowman empathizes with the yearning to replicate a cherished departed pet but cautioned that clones will inevitably differ from the original. While clones share identical DNA, the circumstances surrounding their birth vary. Bowman recounted instances where individuals discovered that their cloned pets exhibited dissimilar temperaments compared to the originals. “I once had a dog during my childhood… I would love to encounter that dog again,” reflected Bowman. “However, a clone wouldn’t be the same.”
Courtesy: This story has been edited by The Hello Asia News Online staff and has been published from a CBC News, Canada.