Ibex goats, a wild species under national second-class protection, were recently captured on camera scaling treacherous rocks in the high-altitude areas of the Kunlun Mountains near Kunyu City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
In the video footage, these robust and agile goats effortlessly navigated steep rocks with astonishing climbing ability, at times hugging the rockface to scout their path, and at others leaping onto narrow ledges - all while maintaining perfect balance on near-vertical terrain.
The ibex goats are among the mammals that inhabit the highest altitudes, active in rugged areas ranging from 3,500 to 6,000 meters in altitude. They are adept at climbing and leaping on bare rocky plateaus and steep slopes.
In recent years, the population of ibex goats in the Kunlun Mountains area of Xinjiang has been steadily increasing, contributing significantly to the preservation of local biodiversity and the maintenance of ecological balance.
""We have currently observed over 150 wildlife species, with more than 20 species, including ibex goats, Tibetan antelopes, and red deer, being under national protection. Ibex goats, as a typical species in the region, are frequently monitored," said Yusufjan Yakup, an official from the Kunyu Municipal Natural Resources and Planning Department.
Rare Ibex goats caught on camera scaling treacherous rocks in China's Xinjiang
Russia said on Saturday that its forces had seized control of a settlement and struck Ukrainian transportation and energy infrastructure facilities, while Ukraine reported, on the same day, that its forces had launched attacks on a Russian military-industrial factory over the past 24 hours.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily report that over the past day that Russian forces had taken control of one settlement in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
Russian troops struck Ukrainian military transportation and energy infrastructure facilities, and destroyed one transport-loading vehicle of the U.S.-made multiple launch rocket system HIMARS and multiple launchers of Flamingo long-range cruise missiles, according to the report.
Russian air defense systems intercepted one guided bomb, seven HIMARS rockets, five Flamingo missiles, and 172 fixed-wing drones, the ministry said.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that during the past night, Ukraine's Missile Forces and Artillery units launched multiple Flamingo cruise missile attacks on a military-industrial factory in Russia's Udmurt Republic.
Ukrainian forces struck a natural gas processing plant in Russia's Samara region, and Russian military targets including fuel depots in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, the Ukrainian side said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed decrees to sanction Russia's "shadow fleet," and entities and individuals serving Russia's military industry, the Ukrainian president's official website reported Saturday.
The decrees were signed to enact decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said the report.
One of the decisions aims to counter Russia's "shadow fleet," involving 225 ship captains related to exporting Russian petroleum products.
Those sanctioned include citizens of Russia, India and the Philippines. Most of the vessels involved have already been placed under sanctions by the European Union, the United States, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Another package of sanctions was imposed on 46 Russian citizens, two Iranian citizens, and 44 Russian companies servicing Russia's military-industrial complex, according to the report.
Zelensky said Saturday that the Ukrainian side will do everything necessary so that the next round of negotiations between Ukraine, the United States and Russia can deliver results for Ukraine and peace.
Ukraine will by no means stand in the way of peace, he said in a video address.
Zelensky announced that his meetings with European partners are scheduled for next week.
The delegations from Ukraine, the United States and Russia held the latest round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb 17-18, with no breakthrough on key issues.
Russia reports strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities, Ukraine claims hitting Russian munitions factory
