In the dense forest, staff members from the Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve in Wuxi County, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, track a set of fresh footprints.

Each has five toes, but the footpad is bigger at the outer edges than a human's: it's a male Asian black bear weighing over 150 kilograms. 

Yintiaoling National Nature Reserve is an offshoot of the Shennongjia primitive forest. There, at an average altitude of 1900 meters, reserve staff are studying the animals, using infrared cameras and other tools to provide better conservation.

At least 10 bears live all over the area.

(Cover image via VCG)

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