WWF Camera Trap Survey Reveals Snow Leopards Across China
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) recently carried out a fascinating survey in some remote areas of China, capturing stunning images of the rare snow leopard using camera traps. They set up 160 infrared cameras in alpine regions, including the Qilian Mountain National Park, where around 150 snow leopards are believed to live, and in the Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan. The project resulted in over 600 photos from 157 different sightings. In 2025, WWF-China supported 10 snow leopard rangers, leading to 500 days of patrolling. Besides snow leopards, the cameras also caught various other mountain species. These big cats thrive at altitudes between 3,000 and 4,500 meters and inhabit 12 Asian countries, with a significant portion of their habitat still unexplored.
Key facts
- WWF led a camera trap survey using 160 infrared cameras in China.
- Over 600 photos of snow leopards from 157 sightings were captured.
- Qilian Mountain National Park hosts an estimated 150 snow leopards.
- Cameras also recorded lynxes, ibexes, red deer, Sichuan takin, wild dogs, and foxes.
- Cameras operate at temperatures as low as -40°C (-40°F).
- Snow leopards live at altitudes of 3,000 to 4,500 meters.
- Their habitat spans 12 Asian countries covering 772,204 square miles.
- Over 70% of snow leopard habitat remains unexplored.
Entities
Institutions
- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
- WWF-China
- Qilian Mountain National Park
- Wolong National Nature Reserve
- Digital Camera World
- PetaPixel
Locations
- China
- Qilian Mountain National Park
- Zhangye
- Sichuan Province
- Wolong National Nature Reserve
- Afghanistan
- Bhutan
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Russia
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan