In northwest China's Qinghai-Xizang Plateau lives a type of big cat that can adapt to some of the harshest conditions on Earth. Being the apex predator and an indicator of the health of their habitat, this animal is known as the "King of the snow mountains" in China.

This cat's name is the snow leopard, a species under top-class state protection in China and listed as "vulnerable" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The snow leopard's habitat extends across the mountainous regions of 12 countries across Asia, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India and Nepal. The total range covers an area of close to 2,000 square meters, with 60 percent of the habitat found in China. The snow leopard is also known as an indicator of the impacts of climate change on the mountainous environment, as they are susceptible to the changes in their habitat. For years, its range has been affected by global warming and human disturbance. Illegal wildlife trade and human-leopard conflicts due to the animal preying on livestock are also causing the big cat's population decline.

To protect the species, China launched a series of projects covering three major areas: a national park and nature reserve system, policies to fight against poaching and illegal trade and raising public awareness of protecting the rare species.

In 2013, the country launched an action plan to protect the rare species. It has also been exploring other options, like building national parks since 2017 to further protect snow leopards and other wild animals. To date, 138 nature reserves have been established across the big cats' habitats in China, including the Qilian Mountain and Sanjiangyuan national parks, forming the most basic protection and monitoring network.

Conflicts between local herdsmen and snow leopards have also eased a lot due to the compensation provided by the country for livestock loss. Many herdsmen have also joined the team of forest rangers helping researchers and scientists to set up infrared cameras to trace and monitor the activities of the snow leopard.

For more:

Home to Qinghai: Naked carp population increased greatly in 20 years due to ecologic improvement

Home to Qinghai: China strengthens protection of Tibetan antelope

(Cover image designed by CGTN's Xing Cheng and infographic designed by CGTN's Mukesh Mohanan.)

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