Local photographers in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region have observed a notable surge in snow leopard activities which signal a promising trend in wildlife recovery.
Sude, an amateur photographer from Bayingolin Prefecture of the region who is influenced by his father Sailmugap, has been dedicated to capturing images of wild animals for years.
He recalled that about one month ago, his father was notified by herders who reported that a large animal had taken their sheep.
They immediately drove to the area and kept vigil overnight. Unexpectedly, they found the "culprits behind the murder scene."
To their surprise, it turned out that four snow leopards were involved, which is a rare occurrence given that these elusive cats typically lead solitary lives.
"We had never expected that snow leopards would be responsible for the sheep being taken away, let alone a group of four. My father said snow leopards are usually solitary creatures. This time, however, there are four, comprising a female, a male, and their two cubs," said Sude.
Daolgar, an official from the Forestry and Grassland Bureau of Hejing County in the prefecture, joined forces with Sude and Sailmugap upon hearing reports of repeated snow leopard sightings.
Together, they installed infrared cameras to monitor the movements of these snow predators.
Daolgar said the footage captured by the father and son and the infrared devices clearly shows human activity has been gradually receding, allowing vegetation to flourish and wildlife to rebound.
"We have also studied the images captured by Sailmugap and his son, alongside the infrared camera footage. It is evident that human presence is diminishing, grasslands are thriving, and wildlife is making a strong comeback. Essentially, we are restoring nature to its rightful inhabitants," said Daolgar.
Sude could not agree more, emphasizing that as humans step back, snow leopards are reclaiming and expanding their habitat, paving the way for the resurgence of their legendary presence.
Xinjiang is home to 1,200 to 2,000 snow leopards, accounting for approximately half of the total number in China, according to the official data.
Xinjiang photographers record expanded activity range of wild animals
Venezuela is facing a severe "flight suspension crisis" that has led to challenges in family reunion and severely impacted the tourism industry due to the country's heightened tensions with the U.S. and Trump's threat to shut its airspace.
Amid heightened tensions between Venezuela and the United States, both passengers and the Venezuelan airlines that operate international flights are facing pressure as the New Year holiday is near.
Julio, a resident of Caracas, is anxiously waiting for his mother at the Simon Bolivar International Airport in Maiquetia. His mother, in her 90s, has not returned to Venezuela to visit family for two years and is eagerly looking forward to spending the New Year holiday with her loved ones in Caracas. However, due to the recent extreme scarcity of international flights, she has been stranded in Bogota, Colombia, for a week before finally securing a ticket to return home.
"My mother flied from Italy. But due to issues with the airline, she had to stay in Bogota for a week waiting for a flight to Caracas. It used to be easy to buy flight tickets from Colombia. Just 20 days ago, several international airlines were still selling tickets, but now the flight cancellations have made it difficult to purchase them," he said.
The experience of Julio's family is an epitome of the difficulties faced by countless Venezuelans abroad who find it challenging to return home.
At the same time, outbound travel of Venezuelan people has also been severely affected. With most international airlines suspending their operations to and from Venezuela, traveling abroad for the New Year holiday has become both expensive and cumbersome.
A business manager of a travel agency in Caracas said that the extensive flight cancellations have led to a significant increase in travel costs, forcing approximately 35 percent of tourists to cancel their travel plans, with the routes to Europe being the most heavily impacted.
"Due to the lack of direct flights like before, the costs for outbound travel have risen. Travelers now need to purchase an additional connecting flight to reach their destinations. They are faced with the choice of buying multiple tickets or canceling their trips and staying in the country. Venezuelan airlines and the government have been working to address these challenges, but the number of travelers is vast, and many people continue to be affected," the business manager said.
In addition, the sharp decline in the number of inbound tourists has led to a significant drop in the occupancy rate at many hotels in Caracas. To attract tourists, numerous local hotels have been forced to implement substantial price reductions.
To address the series of negative impacts caused by extensive flight cancellations, Venezuela's tourism sector is taking proactive measures.
Vicky Herrera, president of the Venezuelan Association of Travel Agencies and Tourism, said that although the tourism industry is currently facing severe challenges, the government is seeking breakthroughs by strengthening routes to neighboring countries.
Flight suspension in Venezuela impacts tourism amid rising U.S. tensions
