A dramatic incident occurred when a snow leopard suddenly attacked a female tourist after she approached too closely to take photos at a ski resort in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Officials had to rush to provide assistance.
This unexpected event took place around 19:00 on Friday, 23 January near Talat Village, Koktokay City, according to the Chinese media Global Times. A video shared on social media showed a snow leopard standing close to the tourist, who was wearing ski gear and lying face down on the snow.
The next footage showed the injured woman being helped away from the scene, with blood stains visible around her neck and on her helmet.
According to China.com, before the incident, the female tourist encountered the snow leopard while returning to her hotel and tried to photograph the wild animal. Despite repeated warnings from other tourists, she continued approaching until she was about three meters away.
Chinese media reported that when the woman tried to touch the snow leopard, it lunged and bit her face, causing her to fall to the ground. A ski instructor then intervened, chased the snow leopard away, and assisted the injured tourist. She was reportedly taken to the People's Hospital in Fuyun District and is now in stable condition.
The area has seen multiple snow leopard sightings previously. On 17 and 21 January, authorities advised tourists to remain inside vehicles, avoid approaching wildlife, and refrain from walking alone, as this route leads to the Koktokay International Ski Resort.
The Fuyun District Forestry and Grassland Office, along with local cultural and tourism agencies, confirmed the incident via WeChat. They stated that patrols and protective measures in the area have been increased and urged both locals and tourists to exercise caution, maintain distance from wildlife, and immediately report any wildlife sightings to authorities to ensure everyone's safety.
.source:channelnewsasia
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