XI'AN, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Rangers at the Changqing National Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, met with a wild leopard walking about 30 meters away, according to the reserve administration Sunday.
The rangers took high-definition pictures of the leopard using single-lens reflex cameras. It was the third time that the animal was captured on camera in the reserve, with the first two taken by infrared cameras.
More than 20 images show that the animal's yellow-brown fur is covered with black coin-shaped markings, and the back of its ears and the tip of its tail are all black.
According to the nature reserve's administration, the whereabouts of leopards remain mysterious and it is rare to encounter a wild leopard and be able to observe it so closely.
"At first, we found plenty of fresh takin footprints and excrement on the roadside. Judging from the experience, we thought there might be a large group of takins moving ahead, but we didn't expect to see a leopard," said ranger Zhou Yong.
"Considering the size of the leopard described by the rangers, we made the preliminary conclusion that the animal was a subadult leopard, which was possibly following the takin herd for hunting," said Zhang Shechao, head of the administration. Enditem
