A snow leopard attacked a tourist and ate part of her face after she stopped to take a selfie with it. The incident happened in China’s Xinjiang region on Friday, January 23.
According to reports, the skier got too close to the wild animal and took selfies with it prior to the mauling.
The tourist was on her way back to her hotel when she spotted the wild snow leopard near a grove of trees.
She got out of her vehicle, and approached the wild animal to take photos, according to state-owned broadcaster CCTV.
Cell phone video footage shows the animal guarding its prey after mauling the woman’s face. Rescuers chased the leopard away and transported the woman to a local hospital.
The video shows the leopard moving through the snow as the injured woman was led away by rescuers.
“It’s gone,” someone said in the video.
The woman is in stable condition in a local hospital, the Forestry Bureau said.
The bureau added that tourists should avoid getting close to dangerous animals.
“The general public and tourists are urged to strictly abide by the safety guidelines, maintain a safe distance when encountering wild animals, and report to the police immediately to ensure personal safety,” the bureau said in an online notice.
I am rarely left mouth agape. Snowboarder was attacked by a snow leopard. No gore. Just wow. ? pic.twitter.com/KrY2Mqtm28
— Frankly Frank (@NoFrankingWay) January 27, 2026
