Infrared cameras have captured footage of a brown bear scratching its itchy back on a rock in a mountainous area near Urumqi City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The video was released by an animal protection team, showing the brown bear species, which hasn't been seen in the region for the last two decades.

"It's been out of sight for a long time. Bears have basically vanished from here for about 20 years, based on our early research including interviews with local herders," said Xing Rui, researcher of the Wild Xinjiang animal protection team.

As the local government has made great efforts to improve the ecological environment, more wild animals including wolf, wild boar, red fox, alpine ibex, red deer and beech marten have been seen enjoying life in the region.

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