Believed extinct in Syria for more than 70 years, the northern bald ibis was rediscovered near the ancient city of Palmyra in 2002 (ph- oto of Palmyra ruins). The species was once common across the Middle East and North Africa, but now fewer than 300 remain in the wild.

Relive the hunt for the elusive bird with team leader and National Geographic Society grantee Gianluca Serra, who said: "Discovering this bird was like finding the Arabian Phoenix regenerated from the ashes."

(National Geographic News is part of the National Geographic Society.)