The conservation of snow leopards at a national nature reserve in northwest China's Qinghai Province in recent years has boosted the protection of the whole ecological system in the region.
Snow leopard is a feline living in the highest altitude and can withstand a temperature of minus 40 degrees Celsius. It boasts excellent jumping and climbing abilities and can move freely on steep cliffs. All these advantages have established their status as a flagship species in the Qilian Mountain and even the entire Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. "The reason why snow leopards are our flagship species in Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve is that, first, they are very rare. The global snow leopard population is less than 10,000, with only some 4,500 in China, of which some 1,200 in Qinghai Province. Second, they are a typical species of the alpine ecosystem. Third, snow leopards boast a strong ability to survive in the wild and have a high cultural value. It is hailed as the 'king of the snow mountains'," said Tsering Dorje, director of Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration in Qinghai. As the star species of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, snow leopards also play the role of umbrella species. Protecting the snow leopards and their habitats also effectively protects a variety of natural resources in the same ecosystem at the same time. "This area in Qinghai, a candidate region for the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve, is an important habitat for snow leopards and a haven from climate change. In 2018, we captured on camera a precious footage of five snow leopards at the same time. Our latest background survey data shows that there are more than 250 snow leopards living in this area of Qinghai. At the same time, the region is the richest, most unique and most concentrated area of biodiversity among regions at the same latitude and at high altitudes. At present, we have discovered 288 kinds of vertebrates, 512 kinds of wild invertebrates and 642 types of higher plants. Protecting the snow leopards also protects the rare and endangered wild animals and plants such as jackal, white-lipped deer, Szechenyi's monal-partridge, pomatosace, and Saussurea medusa in Qilian Mountain. The biodiversity in this area of Qinghai has benefited from protecting snow leopards," said Tsering.
Snow leopards protection in northwest China promotes ecology conservation
