A leopard cat, a wild animal species under China's second-class protection, was recently photographed by an infrared camera in the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

This is the first time that a wild leopard cat has been photographed in the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve.

Leopard cats mainly inhabit mountainous forest areas, suburban shrubs, and villages on the edge of forests. Their dens are mostly in tree holes, holes in the ground, under rocks or in rock crevices. They are nocturnal and active in the mornings and evenings.

Due to the fur trade, leopard cats have been overhunted in many places and have disappeared.

The relevant person in charge of the reserve's administration introduced that leopard cats are the top species in the food chain of small mammals. They play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem and function of forests and wetlands.

The appearance of the leopard cat not only enriches the image database of recorded species in the reserve, but also reflects the fruitful results of an improved ecological environment and advanced animal protection work.

Moving forward, the reserve will continue to strengthen ecological protection and wildlife protection.