Seconds from disaster: Chilling photo shows skiing tourist taking selfie with rare snow leopard moments before it mauled her face
This is the chilling selfie a skiing tourist took moments before he mauled his face with a rare snow leopard.
The woman was seriously injured after an attack at around 19:00 on January 27 in the Talat village area of the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark in Funyun County in northern China.
According to local reports, the incident occurred when the skier came dangerously close to the wild animal while trying to take photos while returning to the hotel.
In the photo, the woman can be seen smiling as the leopard crouches right behind her in the snow, appearing to be ready to attack.
In the video footage taken a few minutes later, it is seen that the tourist, who was trapped under the leopard in deep snow, was rescued by people holding his blood-covered face.
Despite the warnings of the authorities after the animal was seen in the area the previous day, the skier moved within 3 meters of the animal after seeing it in the snow and reportedly could not get a good enough angle.
The animal then jumped and smashed its face before a ski instructor chased it away, brandishing his pole.
The skier escaped more serious injuries thanks to his helmet, but was taken to a local hospital for treatment where he remained in stable condition.
This is the chilling selfie a skiing tourist took moments before he mauled his face with a rare snow leopard
The woman was seriously injured after the attack at around 19:00 on Friday in the Talat village area of the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark in Funyun County in northern China.
According to local reports, the incident occurred when the skier came dangerously close to the wild animal while trying to take photos while returning to the hotel.
The leopard was spotted the previous day by tourists staying at a hotel near a grassy area in the area, probably due to starvation.
The owner of the hotel said: ‘We saw this last night a few kilometers from where the attack took place, but we cannot confirm whether it is the same snow leopard.’
Local authorities have warned citizens that a large number of snow leopard sightings have been reported in the Geopark in recent days and said: ‘Snow leopard activity has recently been detected in Gem Valley, Keketuohai.
‘Snow leopards are large predators with strong aggressive tendencies.
‘When passing through this area, please act quickly and do not linger.
‘Do not get out of your vehicle or approach to take photographs, and never walk alone in the area.’
China is home to the largest number of wild snow leopards in the world, according to the Snow Leopard Trust.
Despite the warnings of the authorities after the animal was seen in the area the previous day, the skier approached the animal within 3 meters after seeing it in the snow and reportedly could not get a good enough angle.
The animal pounced on the woman and mauled her face before being chased by a ski instructor who swung his stick at the animal.
The country is home to about 60 percent of the world’s snow leopard population, but attacks on humans are considered rare as the animals are known for their shy and elusive nature.
American biologist and environmentalist George Schaller previously said: ‘I don’t know of a single case of a snow leopard attacking and killing people.’
The species, now classified as vulnerable, lives in 12 countries in Central Asia, including China, India and Mongolia.
The investigation into the attack that took place on Friday continues.
