Snow leopard repeatedly spotted in Gansu's Qilian Mountains

Rare footage of an adult snow leopard, a national first-class protected species in China, has been captured by infrared cameras in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu province, showing the elusive predator patrolling, foraging, and roaming through its habitat.

The footage was recently retrieved and sorted by staff at the Gucheng Nature Reserve Station, which operates a network of infrared cameras across the area.

Over a two-month monitoring period, the adult snow leopard was recorded multiple times. The repeated sightings suggest that the area provides a stable habitat and a healthy food chain for the elusive predator.

The return of the snow leopard also reflects broader improvements in the Qilian Mountains ecosystem, according to the reserve station. Through regular patrols, habitat restoration, grid-based camera monitoring, and tighter controls on human activity, populations of species such as blue sheep, red deer, and blue-eared pheasants have steadily increased, providing a stronger food base for top predators.

The station said it would continue to strengthen wildlife monitoring and habitat protection, with closer tracking of snow leopard populations and their movements to better safeguard biodiversity in the Qilian Mountains.