Rare species return to Qilian Mountains

Snow leopards rebound

"We came across two snow leopards during a patrol," recalled Lang Wenrui, deputy director of the Sunan branch of the Zhangye ecology and environment bureau, which administers part of the mountain range. "They were drinking by a water source, only 5 or 6 meters away from us. It seems they are not afraid of people, as they didn't hide upon seeing us."

In the video he recorded, a large snow leopard and a small one move gracefully through the rocky, overgrown precipices, occasionally pausing to survey their surroundings. Their grayish-white fur, adorned with black spots, blends seamlessly with the rocky landscape, making them difficult to spot. Their limbs are powerful, with muscles flexing as they move, hinting at their leaping abilities.

Lang, a photography enthusiast of Tibetan ethnicity, spends most of his year patrolling the Qilian Mountains.

"I've been searching for snow leopards for 15 years during patrols," he said. "In the first 10 years, I didn't see a single one, but in the past five years, I've encountered over a dozen."

The snow leopard population in the Qilian Mountains has been rapidly recovering, an epitome of the results of continuous conservation efforts.

"Sightings of snow leopards in the wild are more frequent, and the range within which these leopards make their presence known is steadily expanding," said Pei Wen, director of the management center of Gansu's Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve.

The number of snow leopards in Gansu's Qilian Mountain and Yanchiwan national nature reserves has reached approximately 700, according to Ma Duifang, head of the wildlife management department at the Zhangye branch of the Gansu Qilian Mountain National Park Administration.

The snow leopard expert has a reserved character, yet becomes animated and confident when discussing the large mammals.

"Snow leopards are ambush predators with short, sturdy legs and long, thick tails. They aren't fast runners and are not good at chasing prey over long distances, but they excel at climbing, moving across cliffs as if on flat ground," Ma said.

Restoring the snow leopard population is crucial, he said.

"Snow leopards are a flagship and umbrella species in the Qilian Mountains, sitting at the top of the ecosystem's food chain. They are closely linked to many other wildlife species in the region," he said. "For example, the bearded vulture, which is not a strong hunter, relies on the carcasses of prey caught by snow leopards as a vital food source. Meanwhile, the populations of blue sheep, red deer and musk deer — primary prey for snow leopards — are kept in check by their predation."

Ma said snow leopards are like "the thermometer of the alpine ecosystem".

"When their population structure and numbers are balanced, it signals a healthy ecosystem. Conversely, if their numbers are declining or they're on the brink of extinction, it suggests there are broader issues with the environment," he said.