A snow leopard, a wild species under China's national first-class protection, was caught with her cub by an infrared camera in the Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve in northwest China's Gansu Province.
In the footage collected recently by the nature reserve staff, the two snow leopards are strolling leisurely through the snow in single file. The curious mother approached the camera lens, followed by her cub, estimated to be about one year old, who sniffed at the device.
These are the first such images ever recorded in this conservation area since the reserve initiated snow leopard monitoring in 2018, offering scientists never-before-seen insights into how these endangered cats live and raise their young in this region.
Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In recent years, the Gahai-Zecha National Nature Reserve has intensified efforts in biodiversity conservation. Through measures including optimizing eco-environment monitoring network systems and conducting public awareness campaigns, the reserve has created favorable habitats for snow leopards and their prey, significantly enhancing the stability of its ecosystem.
The latest data from the National Forest and Grassland Administration indicates the sustained growth of China's snow leopard population, with the number of monitored individuals exceeding 1,200.
Rare snow leopards caught on camera in northwest China
Rare snow leopards caught on camera in northwest China
