A female skier was mauled Friday evening by a wild snow leopard after she moved close to the animal to take a picture near a resort area in Fuyun County, officials said, an encounter that left her with serious facial injuries and prompted warnings to visitors across Xinjiang.
The attack, captured in widely shared video, unfolded near Koktokay in the Keketuohai UNESCO Global Geopark, a mountainous destination along China’s northern frontier with Mongolia. Local authorities said the woman had been returning to her hotel around 7 p.m. when she came upon the big cat and stepped closer for a clearer image. Witnesses said a ski instructor and bystanders drove the leopard off by shouting and waving ski poles. The woman, whose name was not released, was taken to a nearby hospital and listed in stable condition. Officials said patrols were stepped up in the area as sightings of snow leopards have increased with recent cold snaps pushing wildlife closer to human activity.
Witness accounts describe the skier approaching over several minutes before the snow leopard crouched and launched, knocking her to the snow and biting her head and face. A helmet and goggles appeared to blunt the worst of the injuries, according to people who helped carry her away from the scene. “Do not approach or photograph wild animals,” local authorities said in a public advisory issued after the incident. “Move quickly through affected areas and report sightings.” No one else was hurt. The animal retreated into a rocky draw as a small crowd formed, and responders guided visitors back toward lit routes that lead to hotels and the main road.
Officials did not immediately identify the specific animal involved, though recent posts from residents and businesses near Koktokay have shown snow leopards roaming at dusk. Police said they would review video shot by tourists and businesses to confirm the path the big cat took in and out of the village edge. Rangers logged fresh tracks in packed snow and noted a cluster of reported sightings over two evenings near guesthouses and parking areas. Investigators also plan to collect clothing and equipment for documentation, a routine step when wildlife makes physical contact with people. Authorities said there was no indication the leopard was injured or lingering in the immediate area after it fled.
Snow leopards, classified as vulnerable, are elusive apex predators that range across high-altitude terrain from Central Asia to western China. Attacks on humans are rare, conservation researchers say, but the animals have been documented scavenging near settlements in deep winter and following livestock along ridges above towns. Xinjiang hosts some of the largest known habitat in China, and tourism to Altay Prefecture’s ski hills and ice festivals has grown in recent seasons. Local leaders have promoted the geopark’s granite valleys and frozen rivers while stressing coexistence measures such as waste control, guided access to sensitive areas and corridor patrols by forestry and police units.
Friday’s attack happened during a winter system that brought freezing temperatures and reduced visibility to the Altay highlands. Resort staff said operations continued with added spot checks along connector roads and trailheads after the incident. Businesses near the village square posted printed notices reminding guests to remain on marked routes at night and to contact hotel staff if wildlife is sighted. Residents said the skier was aided within minutes by a ski instructor who kept the crowd back as others used scarves and coats to control bleeding until medics arrived. A short clip later showed the woman conscious and walking with assistance as blood streaked her face and jacket.
Local agencies said they have increased evening patrols at approaches to the park and near lodgings, using loudhailers and flashing lights to push wildlife toward open country. Forestry officers coordinated with the geopark’s management office to review recent trail closures and camera-trap locations. Police said they would interview witnesses and review whether additional lighting or temporary barriers are needed at habitual crossing points. Tourist shuttles were rerouted late Friday to avoid lightly monitored lanes on the village fringe, and ride-share drivers were advised to stage closer to the main gate.
Officials did not release the skier’s age or hometown, citing privacy rules, and they did not say whether she is a domestic or foreign visitor. Doctors described her injuries as significant but not life-threatening and said specialists would evaluate facial fractures and lacerations in the coming days. A spokesperson for the geopark said the site remains open with restrictions in certain zones at dawn and dusk, when wildlife tends to move. The statement noted that rangers are briefing group guides at morning muster and logging any fresh sign in a central dashboard used to deploy patrols.
Video from the minutes before the attack showed visitors filming the snow leopard from a distance as it padded along a ridge behind a guesthouse. People familiar with local routines said the same animal may have been spotted the previous evening near trash storage behind a restaurant, a common attractant in mountain towns. Rangers planned to audit refuse pickup and storage around the square and to ensure bear- and cat-resistant lids are latched on collection bins. Businesses were asked to secure kitchen scraps and to keep delivery alleys clear of hiding spots where wildlife can wait out crowds before slipping back to slopes.
Snow leopard researchers say encounters spike when deep cold drives prey to lower elevations and when more people venture into winter recreation zones. Records from recent winters in northern Xinjiang show periodic cat sightings near villages but few contacts with people. Conservation groups have documented regional numbers in the low thousands across range states, though precise counts are difficult in terrain that often defeats ground surveys. Officials in Altay said they will coordinate with provincial wildlife experts to determine whether additional camera traps, track surveys or temporary closures are warranted if sightings continue near residential blocks.
Authorities said any future steps will follow an initial incident report summarizing timelines, witness interviews and ranger logs. If confirmed as a wild snow leopard within the geopark boundary, the case will be recorded under protected-species protocols managed by forestry police, who can authorize targeted hazing or temporary area closures if an animal repeatedly approaches crowds. As of Monday, there were no plans to track or tranquilize a specific cat. Hotels near the square told guests to expect periodic announcements as patrols continue through the week.
By late Monday, officials said the woman remained hospitalized in stable condition and that no additional sightings were reported near the main lodgings. The next milestone is a public update from local authorities summarizing video review and patrol adjustments, expected after teams complete interviews with witnesses and business owners around the village perimeter.
Author note: Last updated January 26, 2026.