On October 23, a reporter from China News Service gathered insights from the Qinghai Wildlife Rescue and Breeding Center, coinciding with World Snow Leopard Day. Since its inception in 2017, the center has rescued over ten snow leopards in the past eight years, with two of them meeting the criteria for release back into the wild.
Recently, the center collaborated with a wildlife medicine team led by Professor Jin Yipeng from China Agricultural University to perform cataract surgery on an elderly female snow leopard. This surgery marks only the second case of cataract treatment for snow leopards in China.
On February 9, 2022, officials from the forestry bureau in Dulan County discovered a severely injured and unconscious snow leopard in the Wulonggou area of Zongjia Town. Despite attempts at emergency rescue, the animal did not regain consciousness at the scene.
Upon examination, the snow leopard was identified as a female over ten years old, weighing only 23 kilograms—well below the average adult female weight of 30 to 45 kilograms. She exhibited signs of confusion, weak stress responses, and hypothermia, along with visible injuries to her eyes, right hind leg, and tail.
After three days of intensive treatment, the snow leopard’s condition improved, allowing her to leave the critical stage. She was then transferred to the rescue center in Golmud for ongoing care and rehabilitation. By 2024, her weight had increased to 36.4 kilograms, reaching a stable condition suitable for anesthesia and transport. The snow leopard was named “Ling Xiaoxiao” as a nod to its rescue timing around the “Xiao Man” solar term.
On May 26, the rescue center and the China Agricultural University team conducted the first specialized eye examination for Ling Xiaoxiao, determining that cataracts had developed from the external eye injuries sustained during her rescue. Following a three-month period of health stabilization and comprehensive evaluation, the team performed an intra-capsular cataract extraction, with the surgery yielding promising results.
Currently, Ling Xiaoxiao resides in the snow leopard enclosure at the Xining Zoo. During her rehabilitation, visitors may catch a glimpse of her enjoying outdoor sunlight and activities. The rescue center encourages guests to maintain a quiet atmosphere to avoid disturbing her.
Since 2017, the center has successfully rescued several snow leopards, including those named Ling Shuang, Ling Xue, Ling Han, Ling Zhe, Ling Xia, Ling Zhi, and Ling Bu Fu. Notably, the release-eligible snow leopards Ling Zhe and Ling Zhi have already been returned to their natural habitats.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is recognized as the origin of the snow leopard species and serves as their primary and most continuous habitat today. With a global population of approximately 7,000 snow leopards, China is home to over 60% of their habitats and populations, primarily concentrated in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. As of now, the snow leopard population in Qinghai Province is estimated at around 1,200 individuals.
