Snow leopards on the rise in China

October 23 marks International Day of the Snow Leopard, a day to celebrate one of the planet's most elusive and majestic creatures. Known as the "King of the Snow Mountains," this first-class protected species is the world's highest-dwelling feline and a symbol of the health and balance of China's high-altitude ecosystems.

Globally, there are around 7,000 snow leopards, where China is home to over 60 percent of their habitat and more than half of the world's total population. Snow leopards in China are mainly found across Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, and Inner Mongolia, with the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau serving as their primary habitat. Northwest China's Qinghai Province, in particular, has become a stronghold for the protection of snow leopards. The province has created vast, continuous protection zones for this endangered species.

Du Pinggui, director of the provincial forestry and grassland bureau, noted that Qinghai has built a new nature reserve system centered on national parks, forming a biodiversity monitoring network led by the snow leopard. The province's snow leopard population is now estimated at around 1,200, with suitable habitats spanning some 470,000 square kilometers — a quarter of the total habitable area on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Once rarely seen, snow leopards now appear more frequently in camera trap images and photographers' lenses, a sign of their thriving numbers.

Nationwide, China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration continues to strengthen wildlife and habitat protection. Efforts include building a national park-centered conservation system, implementing emergency protection programs for endangered species, and revising wildlife protection laws. Thanks to these measures, the wild snow leopard population in China has shown steady growth, underscoring the country's commitment to safeguarding biodiversity.