A dramatic incident occurred when a snow leopard lunged and injured a female tourist after she approached it to take photos at a ski resort in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Officials rushed to assist her.
This unexpected event took place around 7:00 p.m. on Friday, 23 January, near Talat Village in Koktokay City, according to Chinese media Global Times. A video posted on social media showed the snow leopard standing close to the tourist, dressed in ski gear, lying face down on the snow.
The next footage showed the injured woman being helped away from the scene, with visible blood stains around her neck and helmet.
China.com reported that before the attack, the female tourist encountered the snow leopard while returning to her hotel and tried to take photos of the wild animal. Despite repeated warnings from other tourists, she continued to approach until she was about three meters away.
Chinese media stated that when the woman attempted to touch the snow leopard, it attacked, biting her face and causing her to fall to the ground. A ski instructor intervened, driving the leopard away. Reports say the injured woman was taken to the People's Hospital of Fuyun County and is now in stable condition.
This area had previous snow leopard sightings. On 17 and 21 January, authorities advised tourists to stay inside vehicles, avoid approaching wildlife, and not walk alone, as the area is a main route to the Koktokay International Ski Resort.
The Fuyun County Forestry and Grassland Bureau, together with local culture and tourism departments, confirmed the incident via WeChat. They stated that patrols and protective measures have been increased in the area, urging locals and tourists to exercise caution, maintain distance from wildlife, and immediately report sightings to officials to ensure everyone's safety.
. Source:channelnewsasia
Click to read news aboutsnow leopard