A snow leopard in China recently mauled a tourist who tried to get close enough to take a photo of the rare animal.
China’s Forestry and Grassland Bureau said the tourist, who is a skier, was bitten on Friday, January 23, in the city of Koktokay in China’s Xinjiang region, while returning to her hotel, CNN reported.
“The general public and tourists are encouraged to strictly abide by safety guidelines, keep a safe distance when encountering wild animals, and report to the police immediately to ensure personal safety,” the forestry office said.
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Chinese broadcaster CCTV said the tourist spotted the snow leopard, got out of her car, and approached it to try to take pictures before it was attacked. According to CNN, the tourist was taken to a local hospital, where she is still in stable condition.
Video obtained by USA TODAY shows the chaotic moments after the mauling of the tourists. In some videos, the snow leopard is seen standing over the mauled woman. After the snow leopard leaves the scene, fellow tourists are seen helping the injured skier walk away.
Snow leopards are among the most elusive creatures in the wild and have been granted “first-class protection” in China after suffering from poaching, habitat loss and the effects of climate change in South and Central Asia, according to Chinese magazine Sixth Tone.
How many snow leopards are left in the world?
According to the Snow Leopard Trust, there are still between 3,900 and 6,400 snow leopards left in the world, spread over an area of 2 million square kilometers. The animals are generally solitary and very active; however, they are not known to be aggressive to humans.
Their thick white-gray coat blends in with their surroundings as these leopards live on high and rocky mountains, the Snow Leopard Trust said.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tourist survives snow leopard attack in China. Watch a video of the back.