In China, snow leopards live in seven provinces and autonomous regions: Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Sichuan and Yunnan. They mainly inhabit the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, according to Gao.

Fan Zhiyong, senior director of the Science, Policy and Innovation Center at WWF China, called for a national survey to be carried out on the animals as soon as possible.

Fan also appealed for enhanced international cooperation on snow leopards through taking advantage of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Gao said he had suggested that China support and facilitate "sound, applied and inter-disciplinary research" to study and monitor the status of snow leopards in the country.

suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn

Facts

Scientific name: Panthera uncia

Habitat: The highest regions of Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

Status: Endangered

Population: Estimated at between 3,920 and 6,390

Weight: Adult male 45 to 55 kg

Height: Up to 130 cm