Animal
19:53, 26-Jul-2018
Rare leopard seen on camera in giant panda habitat, SW China
Updated
19:29, 29-Jul-2018
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A rarely-seen leopard has been spotted in Wolong National Nature Reserve, a major habitat for giant pandas, the administration of the reserve told CGTN Thursday.
Video footage captured by an infrared camera showed that the leopard was roaming in an area at an altitude of 4,080 meters in the reserve, which is located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province. However, the camera just caught the rear part of the big cat.
It’s the fist time that the image of a leopard was caught in Wolong Nature Reserve, making it the fourth top predator found in the reserve, following a snow leopard, a jackal and a wolf.
Li Sheng, a researcher with the School of Life Science under Peking
University, said the co-existence of two big cats – a leopard and snow leopard – indicates
a whole and healthy ecological environment in Wolong, providing sufficient prey for
large predators.
The infrared camera was installed in October 2017 and has captured snow leopards seven times, along with three black bear cubs and blue sheep.
A snow leopard was also spotted in the nature reserve by the same infrared camera. / courtesy of the Administration of Wolong National Nature Reserve
A snow leopard was also spotted in the nature reserve by the same infrared camera. / courtesy of the Administration of Wolong National Nature Reserve
It is worth mentioning that a small panda was also spotted in this area, since pandas are rarely seen at such an altitude.
The infrared camera earlier captured a small panda in the nature reserve. / courtesy of the Administration of Wolong National Nature Reserve
The infrared camera earlier captured a small panda in the nature reserve. / courtesy of the Administration of Wolong National Nature Reserve
Due to the scarcity of the species, leopards are under first-class state protection in China. In March 2017, images of a leopard were also captured in Yushu, northwest China’s Qinghai Province.
Duan Zhaogang, an official with the reserve administration, said the reserve will strengthen protection for large predators and help scientists continue the study of their living status and distribution of habitats.
Established in 1963, Wolong National Nature Reserve is the China’s third largest nature reserve and is home to giant pandas.
(Top Image: A leopard was captured in Wolong National Nature Reserve in Sichuan Province. / courtesy of the Administration of Wolong National Nature Reserve)