Macoun's shining moss was first collected by renowned botanist John Macoun between 1862 and 1864. Macoun was a self-taught botanist who collected the moss near his hometown of Belleville, Canada. The exact reason for the moss’s extinction is unknown, but the area where Macoun collected his moss samples was cleared. Although the range of Macoun’s shining moss is unknown, it is thought to have gone extinct soon after its collection in 1864. Extensive surveys for the moss were conducted in 1972 and 2001, with no samples to be found. The Canadian government officially declared Macoun’s shining moss extinct in 2002. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. Macoun’s shining moss might be a candidate for de-extinction. Scientists would potentially use DNA from samples collected by John Macoun in 1864. If the Macoun’s shining moss was returned to Belleville, Canada, would they be able to survive?