Xinjiang Tourist Mauled by Snow Leopard, Face Covered in Blood

Near Gemstone Valley in the Koktokay Scenic Area, Fuyun County, Xinjiang, a visitor filmed what appeared to be a snow leopard attacking a person on the 23rd. The tourist in the video seemed to have been pounced on and bitten by the snow leopard, their face covered in blood. The local police station confirmed that a tourist suffered facial injuries and has been transferred to the hospital for treatment. There is currently no threat to their life.

Local staff analyzed that it was probably because of the recent cold weather that the snow leopard, unable to find food, descended the mountain and approached residential areas searching for something to eat.

According to videos circulating online, a snow leopard can be seen crouching in the snowy landscape, moving occasionally, but it is hard to spot due to its camouflaged fur against the snow. In another clip, a female tourist wearing a purple jacket and a black helmet is being helped up from the snow by several people. She is covering her face with her hand, and blood stains can be seen on various parts of her body.

Local police officers stated that the incident location was in the Gemstone Valley area.

China's National First-Class Protected Animal

The snow leopard is a national first-class protected animal in China, and is globally rare. It is mainly distributed in the mountainous regions of Central Asia, with its natural habitat spanning China, India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Pakistan, Russia, Mongolia, and other countries and regions. In China, it is mainly found in Xinjiang, Qinghai, and Tibet.

The snow leopard is a carnivore, mainly preying on bharal, argali, and other mammals. When food is scarce, it may also hunt livestock and poultry, but generally does not attack humans proactively.

According to a report by the Yangtze Evening News, a local homestay owner said that what appears to be the same snow leopard was spotted on the opposite side of the homestay's pasture on the evening of January 22, and speculated that due to difficulty finding food, it came closer to residential areas. One eyewitness said he saw the snow leopard lying motionless in the snow for about 10 minutes, and then suddenly sprint dozens of meters to pounce on a tourist.

The witness said that the group noticed the snow leopard lying in the snow from a distance and someone in the group called the animal protection department to report the sighting, also disclosing their location as they were on the way to the ski area. When everyone thought the snow leopard would not move quickly, it had already pounced on a tourist.

Another internet user stated that, during the attack, they were in an area with deep snow, and there was simply no time to evade. It was only when many people gathered around that the snow leopard finally let go and left. (News Source: HK01)