Overview
- The work, led by MNCN-CSIC and the Complutense University of Madrid, is published in the journal Theriogenology Wild.
- Ovaries recovered from accident-killed females and cryopreserved sperm from captive-breeding centers in Spain and Portugal were used to generate embryos.
- The resulting embryos were vitrified and stored in the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales germplasm bank for future use.
- Researchers report lower success rates than domestic-cat models and note better outcomes in autumn and winter, with delays in ovary recovery identified as a key constraint.
- The species has rebounded to more than 2,000 individuals and is now listed as vulnerable, while reintroduction progresses unevenly across regions including Castilla-La Mancha, Aragón, and Catalonia.