On the trail of the saber-toothed tiger: Scientists have rescued a species on the brink of extinction (photos).

The Iberian lynx, measuring less than 100 cm in body length and standing 45 cm tall, is a rare sight. At the lowest point, there were fewer than 100 individuals across two populations that did not interact with each other in Spain and Portugal, with only 25 of them being females of reproductive age. As a result, the species was on the brink of extinction, reports BBC.

According to Rodrigo Serra, head of the breeding program in Spain and Portugal, the Iberian lynx was in an incredibly dire state just 20 years ago: the only feline species that faced such a threat thousands of years ago was the saber-toothed tiger.

In simple terms, the Iberian lynx was on the verge of extinction. The decline in population was partly attributed to the increasing use of land for agriculture. However, the rise in road fatalities and competition for food also contributed. The primary prey of lynxes is wild rabbits, whose numbers have decreased by 95% due to two pandemics.

By 2005, there were simply no lynxes left in Portugal; however, that year marked a success for Spain, as the first litter was born in captivity. It took another three years for Portugal to decide on a national action plan for the species' conservation. This led to the establishment of the National Center for Iberian Lynx Breeding in Silves, Algarve.

The center's work focused on two areas:

• preparing for life in the wild;
• breeding for reproduction.

According to Serra, when he and his colleagues notice that the litter is becoming more confident, they enter and chase them, making a lot of noise to scare the animals. This way, researchers train the lynxes to avoid approaching humans in the wild. Scientists also use a special tunnel system in the center to feed the animals and minimize human interaction. When the time comes, the animals are released into the wild.

The project authors note that genetics determines where the lynxes will end up. This is necessary to reduce the risks of inbreeding and disease. Even if a lynx is born in Portugal, it may be transported to Spain.

According to Pedro Sarmento, who is responsible for the reintroduction of lynxes in Portugal and has studied the species for over 30 years, the breeding and rewilding program has been perceived as a success. However, scientists warn that as the population grows, challenges may arise.

The issue is that lynxes are often released onto private lands in Portugal, so program organizers must initially negotiate with landowners. According to Sarmento, there have also been some reports of attacks on chicken coops during the program, but fortunately, they have been few.

Since Spain decided to focus efforts on saving the species, nearly three decades have passed, and scientists now believe that the Iberian lynx is no longer on the brink of extinction. Moreover, researchers hope that within 10 years, the species will reach a favorable status — for this to happen, the population in the wild must reach 5,000 to 6,000 individuals.