China Youth Daily client news (Li Xianmin, China Youth Daily, China Youth Network reporter Sun Haihua) Recently, researchers from the Taibaishan National Nature Reserve in Shaanxi Province took the physical image of the golden leopard for the first time when sorting out the infrared camera data.
This time, the physical image of the golden leopard was taken from an infrared camera located near the Yaowang Hall of the Houzi Pipe Protection Station in the reserve, and the shooting date was 21:23 on June 15, 2021.
Infrared camera photographed the golden leopard. Photo courtesy of Shaanxi Forestry Bureau
Belonging to the mammalian, cat family and leopard genus, the golden leopard is a national level I protected wild animal and is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. As the top biome and flagship species of the ecosystem and biological chain, the large carnivorous golden leopard plays an important role in regulating the regional population structure and maintaining ecological balance. It often preys on woolly crested deer, forest musk, impala, antelope and other old, sick and disabled ungulates, and is known as the "forest scavenger" in nature.
Established in 1965, Shaanxi Taibaishan National Nature Reserve is the first batch of comprehensive nature reserves established in China and the first in Shaanxi Province. The protected area is rich in animal and plant resources, the vertical division of vegetation is obvious, and the Quaternary glacier remains are well preserved, which is the northernmost boundary of the current distribution of giant pandas in China.
Since 2013, the reserve has cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences and Northwest A&F University to carry out infrared camera monitoring in the Haitanghe area, during which not only the physical photos of wild giant pandas have been taken for the first time, but also precious video materials such as giant pandas "playing with cameras", "combing hair", "inverted pee marks" and "eating flowering bamboo".
Source: China Youth Daily client
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