A tourist narrowly escaped a snow leopard attack after posing for a photo next to the wild animal, resulting in severe injuries to her face. The incident occurred at the Koktokay skiing resort in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where the skier encountered the predator while skiing.
The unnamed woman ventured too close to the animal in an attempt to take a selfie, prompting the leopard to viciously strike her moments later. The leopard, appearing ready to pounce in the photo, swiftly attacked the tourist, causing significant harm. Video footage captured the aftermath, showing the injured woman lying in the snow with the leopard beside her.
Witnesses described how the large snow leopard, known to grow up to six or seven feet, mauled the victim’s face, nearly causing fatal injuries. Fortunately, her skiing helmet protected her from more severe harm. A ski instructor intervened by scaring off the leopard, allowing bystanders to rescue the injured tourist.
Footage from the scene captured the woman being escorted away by authorities, visibly injured and bloodied. She was immediately taken to Fuyun County People’s Hospital, where doctors confirmed her injuries were not life-threatening, and she was in stable condition.
Local authorities acknowledged multiple snow leopard sightings near the resort, frequented by millions annually. They issued safety warnings cautioning visitors about the aggressive nature of snow leopards and advising against approaching the animals for photos or lingering in the area.
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