Chinese authorities released photos of snow leopards captured by infrared camera on World Snow Leopard Day on Monday. /China News Service Photo

The snaps of the elusive beasts were taken in the Three Rivers Headwaters region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in northwest China in recent years. /China News Service Photo

Shrinking habitats, illegal hunting and climate change are all factors threatening the snow leopard population. /China News Service Photo

Last month, the International Union for Conservation of Nature changed the snow leopard's Red List status from “Endangered” to “Vulnerable” based on effective breeding and conservation. / China News Service Photo

China has the largest number of snow leopards in the world. The country hosts 60 percent of their habitat. / China News Service Photo

The first World Snow Leopard Day was celebrated in 2014 to raise public awareness of protecting the species. / China News Service Photo

China News Service Photo

China News Service Photo

China News Service Photo