Infrared cameras have been successfully deployed in Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, capturing footage of various nationally protected animals.
One particularly striking capture features a robust snow leopard with a thick tail, sniffing rocks before marking its territory by kicking at bushes. Experts consider this a common 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 regions of Xinjiang, Xizang, Qinghai, and Inner Mongolia.
The infrared cameras also recorded sightings of an alpine musk deer, a red deer, red foxes, and blue-eared pheasants—all 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.
Reference(s):
Infrared cameras capture snow leopards and their neighbors in N China
cgtn.com
