Refer China: Tourist's Snow Leopard Selfie Ends in Mauling After Ignored Warnings

A skier in China ignored warnings and approached within 3 meters of a snow leopard for a photo. The leopard attacked, seriously injuring her face. She was saved by her helmet and rescuers. The incident highlights the critical danger of approaching wild predators.

A tourist's quest for the ultimate wildlife selfie turned into a nightmare in northern China, serving as a stark warning about the dangers of approaching wild animals. A female skier was seriously injured after being mauled by a snow leopard she had moved dangerously close to photograph.

This is the chilling selfie a skiing tourist took with a rare snow leopard just moments before it mauled her face

The woman was left seriously injured after the attack in the Talat village area of the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark in Fuyun County, northern China, at around 7pm on Friday

The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on January 27 in the UNESCO-listed Keketuohai Global Geopark in Fuyun County. According to local reports, the skier was returning to her hotel when she spotted the rare snow leopard in the snow. Despite official warnings issued just the day before about multiple leopard sightings in the area, she reportedly closed within 3 meters (10 feet) to get a better photo angle.

Local reports say the incident happened when the skier moved dangerously close to the wild animal while trying to take a photo on her way back to her hotel

A Chilling Sequence of Events
A selfie taken moments before the attack shows the woman smiling, unaware as the crouching leopard appears poised to pounce just behind her. Seconds later, video footage captured the terrifying scene of the tourist trapped underneath the animal in deep snow before being rescued by others, her face covered in blood. A ski instructor managed to chase the leopard away by waving his poles. Authorities confirmed the skier was saved from more severe injuries by her helmet and is now in stable condition at a local hospital.

Ignored Warnings and a Hungry Predator
Local authorities had explicitly warned the public after tourists sighted a snow leopard near a hotel the previous day. The warnings stated: "Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies... Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photos." The hotel owner noted the leopard was likely in the area due to hunger. Experts emphasize that snow leopards, while elusive, are powerful wild predators, not tame photo props.

A Global Reminder from China's Wilderness
China is home to the world's largest population of wild snow leopards. This incident underscores a critical message for global travelers and wildlife enthusiasts: admiring wildlife requires respecting its space. The pursuit of a close-up photo can have devastating consequences for both humans and animals, potentially forcing authorities to put down a creature that is simply behaving naturally in its habitat.

The skier's helmet may have saved her life, but her story should save others from making the same fatal mistake. True respect for nature means observing its wonders from a safe and responsible distance.