Photo: sichuan.scol.com.cn

A snow leopard and a leopard, two of China's national first-class protected wild animals, were recently spotted in the Yading Nature Reserve in Daocheng county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province.

To monitor the biodiversity of the Yading Nature Reserve, a network of infrared cameras has been installed throughout the area. This has enabled the capture of images of the two rare animals. These images reveal that the snow leopard was roaming at an altitude of approximately 5,000 meters above sea level, while the leopard was discovered within the Nature Reserve's forested region at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level.

The discovery marked the first time that either of these animals had been observed in Daocheng county.

Lu Heshu, a wildlife expert based in Chengdu, told the Global Times that snow leopards primarily inhabit the Qinghai-Xizang Tibet Plateau in China, while leopards are more commonly encountered in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan. However, both leopard species are exceptionally rare and have been designated as vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"This discovery not only provides important scientific evidence for researchers working in protected areas, but also serves as a valuable reference for advancing research and conservation efforts concerning this flagship species and its habitat," said Lu.

The snow leopard and leopard are not only rare but also important indicators of ecosystem health and biodiversity.

For instance, leopards have long served as "flagship" species for forest ecosystems. Jia Boyang, an environmental expert, told the Global Times that the survival of leopards depends on factors like food resources and protection from human interference, including poaching.

"The Yading Nature Reserve strikes a balance by preserving the habitat for these precious leopards while using technological means, such as the monitoring system, for their conservation," said Jia.

As one of China's national-level nature reserves, the Yading site is often referred to as the "gene database for plateau species." Alongside its ongoing "leopard project," it consistently employs technology to enhance the preservation of wild species. In 2017, the research team's infrared cameras captured 20 species of mammals and 14 species of birds at the site. The monitoring project is set to span 10 years.

Technological monitoring has become essential for national parks in China.

Dedicated to wildlife conservation, Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park is among the first to implement an intelligent infrared camera system. In addition to observation, the system enables researchers to recognize individual animals. There are plans to expand the system to cover 14,600 square kilometers of the park, with over 100,000 intelligent monitoring devices to protect these endangered animals in the future.

"These parks not only preserve wilderness but also integrate human presence to foster biodiversity in the environment," Jia told the Global Times.