The Chinese mountain cat (Felis bieti), a national first-class protected wild animal, was recently spotted in Jiuzhaigou in Southwest China's Sichuan province for the first time. Staff engaged in biodiversity monitoring of the nature reserve confirmed sighting the animal with photos captured by infrared cameras, Chinanews.com reported.

As the only feline species endemic to China, the Chinese mountain cat inhabits meadows at altitudes of 2,500-5,000 meters. Primarily nocturnal animals, they are highly alert and solitary, living alone except during the mating season from January to March. Due to their secretive behavior, small population and low distribution density, they have been sparsely recorded over the years.

Therefore, this new distribution finding of the animal in Jiuzhaigou, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, provides valuable data for scientific research and also highlights the remarkable success of biodiversity conservation efforts in the region.

Adult Chinese mountain cats are relatively large, measuring 61–68 centimeters in body length and weighing 4–8 kilograms. Their appearance is characterized by predominantly pale yellow-gray fur with a reddish-brown fur along the back.