An ordinary evening on the slopes turned terrifying when a female skier was attacked by a snow leopard after moving too close to the rare animal to take a photograph.
According to the New York Post, the incident unfolded Friday evening in Fuyun County, a mountainous area near China’s northern border with Mongolia.
Video from the scene shows the aftermath of the encounter, with the skier lying face down in the snow wearing a purple ski suit after being mauled.
Moments later, the footage captures her being escorted away from the area as blood streams down her face, underscoring the severity of the attack.
According to reports from China, the woman had noticed the snow leopard resting in the snow and approached to within about 10 feet in an attempt to take a picture. Snow leopards are known for their elusive behavior, making close encounters with humans extremely uncommon.
A ski instructor intervened during the attack, chasing the animal away by waving his ski poles. Authorities said the quick response helped prevent even more serious injuries.
While the skier avoided life-threatening harm, officials credited her ski helmet with protecting her from more severe head injuries. She was rushed to a local hospital for treatment and was later reported to be in stable condition.
The attack came amid heightened concern from Chinese authorities, who recently warned visitors about multiple snow leopard sightings in the region.
“Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies,” the warning said. “When passing through this area, please move quickly and do not linger. Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos, and never walk alone in the surrounding area.”
The injured tourist had been staying near the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark in Xinjiang, a rugged and remote area known for its dramatic landscapes and wildlife.
Just one day before the attack, visitors reportedly spotted a snow leopard near a nearby guesthouse, where the animal appeared to be searching for food.
“We saw it last night, a few kilometers from where the attack took place, but we can’t confirm if it’s the same snow leopard,” the guesthouse owner said.
China is home to roughly 60% of the world’s wild snow leopard population. Globally, experts estimate that only 4,000 to 6,500 of the endangered big cats remain, according to the Snow Leopard Trust.
Despite their size and strength, snow leopard attacks on humans are considered extremely rare due to the species’ naturally shy and reclusive nature.
