Snow leopard, a vulnerable species rarely seen in the wild, has been captured for the first time in Zoige Wetland National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The reserve's administration retrieved infrared camera equipment in early September and found clear footage of the elusive big cat recorded in June.

The systematic infrared camera monitoring program was launched in March this year, with devices deployed across the reserve to track wildlife activity.

In addition to the snow leopard, the cameras also documented a range of other wild species, including blue sheep, Tibetan gazelles, wolves, Himalayan vultures, Himalayan marmots, and woolly hare, a sign of improved biodiversity and healthier ecosystem in the region thanks to conservation efforts over years.