The Comeback Cat | WILD HOPE

Once on the brink of extinction, the Iberian lynx has been given a chance to thrive again — thanks, in part, to the unyielding dedication of biologist Rodrigo Serra.

Leading an ambitious conservation effort, Rodrigo and his team at the Iberian Lynx Captive Breeding Center in Silves, Portugal have worked for years to bring this elusive predator back from near-complete extinction in the wild. With fewer than 100 mature wild lynxes left at the start of the project in 2009, they carefully raised, trained, and protected generations of lynxes, hoping to restore balance to the ecosystem.

Now, Flora and her young cub Ulan—both lynxes born in captivity—prepare to be the first mother-cub pair released together into the wild. This milestone is a testament to the species’ resurgence and Rodrigo’s lifelong commitment to conserving this beautiful, rare species. Their journey home is a story of hope, resilience, and the delicate balance between humans and nature.

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