A survey on the population of leopards and the biodiversity in their habitats has been launched in Qinyuan County, north China's Shanxi Province.

The scientific expedition, spearheaded by a research team from Beijing Normal University and joined by other higher education institutions and research units, will investigate the current population of the leopards and their habitats, as well as the biodiversity in the Yellow River Eco-Zone.

"The main goal of this research project is to investigate the leopard population and the biodiversity resources in Qinyuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province. This includes the current status of leopard and its prey populations, as well as the wild mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish and aquatic organisms that are under the national protection. It also involves a full investigation on wildlife habitats, biodiversity, ecosystem integrity and authenticity," said Wang Hongxin, director of the Academy for Global Development at Beijing Normal University.

In the past, the leopards were widely distributed in mountainous areas along the Yellow River basin. However, its habitats are reduced to small portions in the Taihang and Lyuliang mountains in Shanxi and a few mountainous areas in Shaanxi Province due to factors such as human interference.

Despite decades of protection, wild leopards in China still face a high risk of extinction, with their rarity comparable to that of the wild Siberian tigers.

Qinyuan, one of the few remaining habitats for leopards in China, is located in the central area of leopard population distribution in the Yellow River Eco-Zone. It is the first stop for the investigation of its populations in the zone.

"Leopards have been existing in Qinyuan for ages. Conducting an investigation here is of significant importance for their population recovery," said Feng Limin, deputy director of the monitoring and research center for Siberian tigers and Amur leopards under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

As apex predators in the local ecosystem, tigers and leopards typically live in woods with an authentic and full ecosystem.

Numerous traces of small to medium-sized herbivores such as wild boars, hares and roe deer indicate that leopards have abundant food sources in Qinyuan.

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