A tourist was mauled by a snow leopard at a ski resort in China's northwestern Xinjiang region after reportedly approaching the animal to take a selfie. The rare attack occurred on 23 January at the Keketuohai Scenic Area in Altay prefecture, a popular winter tourism destination.
Footage shared on Chinese social media shows the leopard in a snowfield before approaching a person lying on the ground. Subsequent clips show a group carrying away an injured woman whose clothing and helmet were bloodstained. According to local media, the female tourist noticed the leopard from afar and attempted to photograph it. When she got within 10ft, the leopard lunged, biting her face and knocking her down.
A ski instructor intervened and drove the animal away. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital with serious facial injuries, but her condition was reported as stable by Hangzhou Daily. Snow leopards are a protected species in China and typically elusive, making encounters with humans extremely uncommon.
Local officials in Fuyun county said they had increased patrols, reinforced protective barriers and intensified public awareness campaigns. They urged visitors to follow safety instructions, avoid approaching wild animals and report sightings. The attack followed earlier warnings after snow leopard tracks were detected in the area days before.
