Stories behind rare close-ups of snow leopard taken on 'roof of the world'

Photo shows a snow leopard captured on film by Tenzin Samdrup, a photographer with China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), in the Sanjiangyuan (Three River Source) National Park in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/CCTV News)

Recently, a video of a snow leopard shot up-close went viral in China, with many Internet users giving likes to the video and commenting that the snow leopard looks "mighty and adorable" in the footage, CCTV News reported.

In the video, which was shot at the Sanjiangyuan (Three River Source) National Park in the hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau — the "roof of the world" — the snow leopard occasionally looks at the camera, giving off a powerful aura. It sometimes gazes into the distance, showing a mighty look, and sometimes lies still in the grass in a daze, looking as adorable as a pet.

The video was shot by Tenzin Samdrup, a photographer with China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), on Oct. 16. The photographer and his colleagues had waited for half a month for their chance in the Sanjiangyuan National Park, which is located in northwest China's Qinghai Province, before finally capturing the snow leopard on film on the mountain at over 4,000 meters above sea level,.

"The snow leopard’s coat is very similar to the color of the mountains. You need a lot of luck to get it on camera," Tenzin Samdrup said.

Photo shows a snow leopard captured on film by Tenzin Samdrup, a photographer with China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), in the Sanjiangyuan (Three River Source) National Park in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/CCTV News)

On the afternoon of Oct. 16, Tenzin Samdrup spotted a snow leopard sunbathing on the mountain and immediately captured the precious scene with his camera at a spot about 400 meters from the animal.

To ensure the safety of both the snow leopard and the photographers, he used a telephoto lens and unmanned aerial vehicles to shoot videos and photos of the wild animal.

This was not the first time that Tenzin Samdrup has captured a snow leopard on camera, but the videos and photos he shot this time are the best of his works recording the expressions of the snow leopard, according to Tenzin Samdrup.

Photo shows a mountain in the Sanjiangyuan (Three River Source) National Park in northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photo/CCTV News)

Due to a keen interest in ecological protection and love for his hometown, Tenzin Samdrup, who was born in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, began documenting the changes in his hometown with his camera 10 years ago, when he was working in Beijing.

In 2017, he quit his job and returned to his hometown to become a professional photographer, and later began working for the NFGA.

In addition to the snow leopard, the photographer has also recorded the activities of many other wild animals, including blue sheep, Thorold's deer, golden eagle, Tibetan fox, cinereous vulture, and wild yak. He has also documented the beauty of Sanjiangyuan, which is home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.

"Over the past 10 years, I have witnessed tremendous changes in the ecological environment of my hometown. I have seen how the ecology of Sanjiangyuan has been improving and the populations of local wild animals have expanded significantly, which wouldn't have been possible without all our joint efforts," Tenzin Samdrup said.

Tenzin Samdrup, a photographer with China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), waits on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to capture wild animal activity with his camera. (Photo/CCTV News)

Despite having to make painstaking efforts and overcome great difficulties, such as harsh climate conditions and sudden natural disasters like snowstorms, landslides, and debris flows, Tenzin Samdrup takes great pleasure in his job and remains determined to record the changes of Sanjiangyuan and protect the wildlife in the Sanjiangyuan National Park in his own way.

He hopes to introduce the beauty of Sanjiangyuan to more people, help them gain a better understanding of the wonders of nature and biodiversity, and motivate everyone to protect wild animals and the planet.

"Every time I set out on a journey to the mountains, I'm ready to meet challenges. The shooting is not easy, but when I spot wild animals, I feel a joy that can't be fully described by words. The primitive beauty of nature and life touches hearts more than anything," the photographer noted.