Infrared cameras captured footage of various nationally protected animals within the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

One particularly striking piece of footage shows a robust snow leopard with a thick tail sniffing rocks before marking its territory by kicking at bushes. Experts believe this is a common display of territorial behavior for the species.

To date, four snow leopards – two males and two females – have been identified from camera trap images in the Helan Mountains. Classified as a first-class state-protected species in China, snow leopards primarily inhabit the regions of Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai and Inner Mongolia.

The cameras also recorded an alpine musk deer, a red deer, red foxes and blue-eared pheasants – all of which are under China's national protection.

These sightings are a testament to the significant improvements in wildlife habitat resulting from increased conservation efforts by local authorities in recent years.