LHASA, May 21 (Xinhua) --The number of snow leopards in a nature reserve in China's Tibet has been on the rise thanks to strengthened protection over the past years.
Located on the China-Nepal border, the Qomolangma National Nature Reserve is the world's highest nature reserve.
In 2013, the Vanke Foundation and forestry departments in China's Tibet established a strategic cooperation partnership and co-initiated a plan for snow leopard protection in the Mt. Qomolangma area.
By 2021, the foundation had donated 11 million yuan (about 1.6 million U.S. dollars) and a snow leopard protection network has been basically set up in the Mt. Qomolangma area.
To date, the monitored area for snow leopard protection has reached 3,000 square km, accounting for 8.9 percent of the nature reserve.
Researchers estimate that the snow leopard population in the reserve reaches 106 to 114.
Snow leopards are under China's highest national-level protection and are listed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Known as the "king of snow mountains," they are usually found at an altitude of 3,000 meters to 5,000 meters.
Produced by Xinhua Global Service
