A devastated shepherd sought the help of local police after a snow leopard slaughtered more than 40 of his sheep after wandering into their pen.

The horrifying scene was discovered by the horrified shepherd, not named in local media, at his property in Yaman Su Township, located in Wushi County, in China’s north-western Xinjiang Region, on the early morning of 29th February.

He was still awake during the night when he heard the terrified cries of the sheep and hurriedly went to check.

There, he saw a large white animal crouched in the sheepfold, having already killed over 40 sheep.

He was shocked to discover the rare snow leopard lurking near his home, dozens of kilometres away from its natural habitat.

He later told local media: “This is the first time in my lifetime that I have seen a real snow leopard. I never expected it to boldly run into someone’s sheepfold and raid it.”

He continued: “This snow leopard intruded my sheepfold as it was entering into a deserted land.

“It effortlessly scaled a fence over two metres high.”

Unable to chase off the dangerous beast, he called police and forest officials for help.

They said they suspected the animal had mistakenly entered the sheepfold while chasing a different prey.

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Normally, it primarily preys on wild animals, rarely causing harm to humans and domesticated animals.

However, upon entering the sheepfold and encountering the livestock, its predatory instincts were triggered.

The stunned owner said: “It bit through a sheep’s neck artery in one gulp, and blood flowed profusely, creating a very tragic scene.”

The forest team were able to capture the leopard.

After a quick health check, they found no apparent injuries and decided to release it back into the wild.

A forestry worker said: “We tried to minimise human disturbance, quickly fitted it with a tracking collar, and then opened the sheepfold door, allowing it to leave on its own.

“It ran very fast, and disappeared within two or three minutes.

“Satellite signals showed it heading directly towards the snowy mountains.”

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a majestic big cat native to the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia.

Recognised for its stunning spotted coat, it thrives in harsh, high-altitude environments, including the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.

Renowned for its elusive nature, the snow leopard is a solitary and elusive predator. Preying on blue sheep and other mountainous ungulates.

Due to the threats of habitat loss and poaching, the snow leopard is considered a vulnerable species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.