Snow Leopard Mauls Tourist Attempting Selfie

A snow leopard attacked and seriously injured a tourist after he approached the animal to take a photograph in northwest China, officials said. The incident occurred last Friday in Koktokay town of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The tourist, who had gone skiing with friends, spotted the rare big cat resting by the roadside while returning by car. Ignoring the danger, he reportedly stepped out of the vehicle and moved very close to the animal to take a picture. The snow leopard suddenly lunged at him with lightning speed, biting his face and leaving him with severe injuries. Bystanders found the man lying in a pool of blood and rushed him to hospital. Authorities said his condition is now stable and improving. A video capturing the shocking attack has since gone viral on social media, triggering widespread discussion on wildlife safety and human interference with endangered species. Snow leopards are considered extremely elusive and rarely attack humans. Conservation estimates suggest only about 4,000 to 7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild worldwide, making the incident a rare but stark reminder of the risks of approaching wild animals.