a head of my own

This is an interesting article about cloning wildcats, which holds promise for saving several species threatened by extinction:

"By improving the cloning process and then encouraging cloned animals to breed and make babies, we can revive the genes of individuals who might not be reproductively viable otherwise, and we can save genes from animals in the wild," commented Dr Betsy Dresser, who led the scientific team at the Audubon Center in New Orleans.

But not all conservationists believe that cloning has much value in preserving threatened species:

"While cloning is an intriguing scientific breakthrough that may enhance captive breeding in the years to come, it currently has no value for conservating endangered species in the wild," said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF's Species Programme.

"Cloning does nothing to reduce the most pressing threats to endangered species and their habitats; conservation requires work on entire populations and their habitats."

Certainly cloning by itself isn't the answer. You can repopulate a species, but if you destroy their environment, then they have nowhere to go and will eventually die again.

Only cloning together with animal sanctuaries and protected areas can really make a difference in the long run.