The ICNF explained that the female that was released today near Mertola, is called "Moreira" and was born on 6 March 2015 at the Lynx breeding centre in Spain.

The institute said that a viable population would be reached when there were about 50 females stabilised in the region.

Since the programme began in late 2014, 19 animals have been released, but only 17 are still alive after the death of two females.

The ICNF has confirmed that three offspring were born, which was “one of the most relevant milestones in the long history of conserving the lynx in Portugal".