Wild leopard population in northern China expanding: experts

Snapshot taken from a video on Sept. 27, 2021 shows the image of a wild Amur leopards captured by an infrared camera in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. (Xinhua)

XI'AN, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Wildlife experts have discovered that the population of wild leopards in northern China is expanding, with research showing the animals establishing themselves in new mountainous areas.

The new discovery on leopard distribution results from a decade-long survey by a team led by Feng Limin, deputy director of the monitoring and research center of Siberian tigers and Amur leopards under the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.

The research shows that there are wild leopards in the main mountain ranges in northern China, and sustainable growth populations have been formed in some areas, with wild leopard populations showing a trend of spreading.

"Our monitoring in the Ziwuling Mountain of Shaanxi Province shows that the population of leopards in this area is around 110, with a population density of 2.4 per 100 square km," said Feng.

It is the largest known local population of wild leopards in China, according to the team.

Meanwhile, the population density in the Heshun area of Shanxi has risen from 1.2 to 1.6 per 100 square km, according to Feng.

Feng added that the leopard is a top predator in the food chain, and the restoration of its population involves the restoration of populations of other animals and plants, biodiversity and even the overall restoration of the ecosystem.

The leopard population in northern China dropped drastically in the second half of the 20th century. The animals now enjoy the highest national-level protection in China.