An infrared camera recorded a snow leopard in a valley located in Dingqing County, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Photo/China News Service)
(ECNS) -- An infrared camera has for the first time recorded a snow leopard and leopard (Panthera pardus) at the same spot in a valley located in Dingqing County, Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, during a biodiversity survey.
Dingqing County is one of the best habitats for snow leopards in China.
Snow leopards usually live near the snow line between 3,500 and 5,500 meters above sea level, while leopards live in forests. Both are national first-class protected animals in China.
The co-existence of the two animals suggests that the region has enough food to support these large predators and a healthy ecosystem, said Zhao Xiang, a project leader at Shanshui Conservation Center.
It might also indicate that climate change could have impacts on the region, Zhao added.
