China News Network Chengdu, August 8 (Anyuan Cao Huijun) The reporter learned from the Aba Management Branch of the Giant Panda National Park on the 29th that the Aba area of the Giant Panda National Park has successfully completed the field work of snow leopard investigation, and is expected to complete infrared camera recovery, data analysis and investigation report compilation in June 29.
Investigators conduct snow leopard surveys in the wild. Photo courtesy of Aba Management Branch of Giant Panda National Park
The snow leopard is a national first-class protected wild animal, an internationally endangered cat species, known as the "King of Snow Mountains". China is the core area of snow leopard distribution, and Sichuan is one of the main distribution areas of wild snow leopards in China. It is of great significance to clarify the population, distribution and habitat of wild snow leopards in Sichuan Province, gradually master the behavioral and ecological knowledge of snow leopards, and learn from the successful experience of giant panda conservation, which is of great significance for maintaining the authenticity, integrity and diversity of the ecosystem of Giant Panda National Park.
Investigators conduct snow leopard surveys in the wild. Photo courtesy of Aba Management Branch of Giant Panda National Park
At the end of June this year, Aba Prefecture launched a full-scale snow leopard survey. The survey involved a total of 6 survey grids in the Aba area of Giant Panda National Park and adjacent areas, including six counties of Xiaojin, Li County, Wenchuan, Mao County, Songpan and Jiuzhaigou, with a total survey area of 266,6650 square kilometers, and all field surveys were completed in early August.
At present, there are 142 species of wild animals under national key protection in Aba Prefecture, including 39 species of first-class protected animals and 103 species of national second-class protected animals. In 2019, snow leopard images were taken several times in Wolong Nature Reserve; In 2022, the Santangu Nature Reserve took 17 effective photos of snow leopards through infrared cameras. (End)