Recently, a snow leopard in China attacked a tourist who tried to get close enough to take photos of the rare animal.
China’s Forestry and Grassland Administration said the ski tourist was bitten while returning to his hotel in the town of Keketuokai in China’s Xinjiang region on Friday, January 23, CNN reported.
The Forestry Bureau said: “Citizens and tourists are requested to strictly abide by safety guidelines, keep a safe distance when encountering wild animals, and call the police immediately to ensure personal safety.”
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China Central Television said the tourist spotted the snow leopard, got out of her car and approached it to try to take a photo before she was attacked. The tourist was taken to a local hospital and is currently in stable condition, CNN reported.
Video obtained by USA TODAY shows the chaotic moments after the beating by the tourists. In some clips, a snow leopard can be seen standing over an injured woman. After the snow leopard left the scene, other tourists showed up to help the injured skier away.
Snow leopards, one of the most elusive creatures in the wild, have received “top-notch protection” in China after suffering poaching, habitat loss and climate change in South and Central Asia, according to China’s Sixth Tone magazine.
How many snow leopards are left in the world?
According to the Snow Leopard Trust, there are only 3,900 to 6,400 snow leopards left in the world, spread over an area of 2 million square kilometers. These animals are usually solitary and highly active; however, they are not known to be aggressive toward humans.
The Snow Leopard Foundation says that because these leopards live on towering rocky mountains, their thick white-gray fur blends in with their surroundings.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a popular news reporter for USA Today. Contact him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared in USA TODAY: Tourist survives snow leopard attack in China. See the aftermath video.