Sonam Rinchen, a journalist from Gerze county, Xizang autonomous region, captures rare footage of a snow leopard on a high-altitude rocky mountain near the county's Yuthok village. [Photo by Sonam Rinchen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

A snow leopard was recently spotted near Yuthok village in Gerze county, Xizang autonomous region, offering rare footage and demonstrating China's conservation and biodiversity research efforts.

Sonam Rinchen, from the Gerze Multimedia Center in Gerze county, captured rare footage of the snow leopard in a high-altitude rocky mountain, sparking widespread attention to snow leopard conservation efforts. Snow leopards are a national first-class protected animal in China.

Sonam Rinchen, a journalist from Gerze county, Xizang autonomous region, captures rare footage of a snow leopard on a high-altitude rocky mountain near the county's Yuthok village. [Photo by Sonam Rinchen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

According to Sonam Rinchen, the expansive grasslands and mountainous areas of Gerze are habitats for many rare wild animals.

Driven by awe and love for nature, he ventured deep into the rocky regions multiple times to track snow leopards, carrying heavy photography equipment.

"Despite numerous setbacks, when my camera only captured empty rocky mountains and endless disappointment, I never gave up," said Sonam Rinchen, who found the snow leopard on April 18. "These images will become the most precious treasure of my life.

"I will continue to focus on ecological protection in Gerze county with my camera to make a small contribution to biodiversity conservation," he added.

Video provided by Sonam Rinchen.

Sonam Rinchen, a journalist from Gerze county, Xizang autonomous region, captures rare footage of a snow leopard on a high-altitude rocky mountain near the county's Yuthok village. [Photo by Sonam Rinchen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

Sonam Rinchen, a journalist from Gerze county, Xizang autonomous region, captures rare footage of a snow leopard on a high-altitude rocky mountain near the county's Yuthok village. [Photo by Sonam Rinchen/For chinadaily.com.cn]

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