00:00Snow Leopard Attack Caught on Video at China Ski Resort
00:04An ordinary evening on the slopes turned terrifying when a female skier was attacked by a snow leopard
00:10after moving too close to the rare animal to take a photograph.
00:14According to the New York Post, the incident unfolded Friday evening in Fuyun County,
00:19a mountainous area near China's northern border with Mongolia.
00:23Video from the scene shows the aftermath of the encounter,
00:26with the skier lying face down in the snow wearing a purple ski suit after being mauled.
00:31Moments later, the footage captures her being escorted away from the area as blood streams down her face,
00:37underscoring the severity of the attack.
00:40According to reports from China, the woman approached within about 10 feet of a resting snow leopard to take a photo.
00:46The rare encounter turned violent, but a ski instructor scared the animal off.
00:51Officials said her helmet prevented worse head injuries,
00:54since she was hospitalized and is stable.
00:58The attack came amid heightened concern from Chinese authorities,
01:02who recently warned visitors about multiple snow leopard sightings in the region.
01:07Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies, the warning said.
01:12When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger.
01:17Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos,
01:20and never walk alone in the surrounding area.
01:22The injured tourist had been staying near the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark in Xinjiang,
01:29a rugged and remote area known for its dramatic landscapes and wildlife.
01:33Just one day before the attack,
01:35visitors reportedly spotted a snow leopard near a nearby guest house,
01:39where the animal appeared to be searching for food.
01:41We saw it last night, a few kilometers from where the attack took place,
01:46but we can't confirm if it's the same snow leopard, the guest house owner said.
01:51China is home to roughly 60% of the world's wild snow leopard population.
01:56Globally, experts estimate that only 4,000 to 6,500 of the endangered big cats remain according to the Snow Leopard Trust.
02:03Despite their size and strength,
02:05snow leopard attacks on humans are considered extremely rare,
02:09due to the species' naturally shy and reclusive nature.
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