A snow leopard's predatory behavior has been captured on camera in a medium-altitude area near Tianchi Lake in Urumqi City of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Leopards in this region follow the tracks of their prey through banks of snow, often in search of red deer and ibex.

Wildlife scientists have observed and tracked snow leopards in the Bogeda Biosphere Reserve in the eastern Tianshan Mountains since 1980 – the first year of scientific exploration in the region.

"The snow leopards have chosen Tianchi Lake as their relatively fixed habitat, indicating a solid ecological system, a balanced food chain, and a comfy living space," said He Xianglan, a staff member of the reserve.

The management committee of the Tianchi Lake Scenic Area has set up a network of 83 monitoring points and 88 infrared cameras to keep an eye on wildlife in the region.

The collected data solidly supports wildlife research. Currently, wild animals of 39 species under national priority protection have been monitored, including the snow leopard and the red deer.

(Cover via CFP.)