Snow leopard mauls tourist in China after she moves in for selfie

A woman was attacked by a rare snow leopard in Koktokay in the Xinjiang region of China. Photo / BBC

A tourist was mauled by a wild snow leopard after attempting to sneak closer to it for a photo opportunity.

The attack took place in Talat village at Koktokay, a township in China’s Xinjiang region, while the female tourist travelled back to her hotel after a day on the ski slopes, People reported.

According to China’s Forestry and Grassland Bureau, the woman’s travel group decided to pull off the road after spotting the rare animal around 7pm local time.

The large cat suddenly set upon the woman, pouncing and biting her face as she tried to approach it for a selfie.

Viral footage shows her lying stationary in the snow while the leopard keeps watch nearby.

Bystanders are later seen assisting the now-bleeding woman to safety while she grasps her face which is partially concealed by a ski helmet.

ABC Australia reported she was taken to hospital where she remained in a stable condition.

According to United Daily News, locals understood recent cold weather meant the leopard had been struggling to find food in the wild, so it had started to loiter around residential areas.

One witness alleged a group of bystanders noticed the snow leopard crouching in the distance and had called animal protection authorities just before the attack.

Another witness claimed the leopard only released the woman after bystanders started to crowd around it.

Global Times reported that safety patrols and security measures had increased since the incident.

“The general public and tourists are urged to strictly abide by safety guidelines,” the forestry bureau said in an online statement.

The department urged tourists to “maintain a safe distance when encountering wild animals, and report to the police immediately to ensure personal safety”.

Koktokay, known as China’s Yosemite, is a sprawling mountainous region with stunning views and premier ski resorts.

Up to 6500 snow leopards remain worldwide according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), with 60% of them living in China where they are a protected species.

They are known to survive in some of the harshest mountain conditions due to their heavy-duty, plush, white-grey coats which camouflage them in their habitat.

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