BEIJING, Jan 28: A tourist in China’s Xinjiang region was mauled by a snow leopard after attempting to get close for a photo, authorities said.

The incident occurred on Friday, Jan. 23, in Koktokay town, Xinjiang, as the skier was returning to her hotel, according to China’s Forestry and Grassland Bureau and CNN. CCTV reported that the tourist got out of her car and approached the rare animal before being attacked.

The skier was taken to a local hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. Video obtained by USA TODAY shows chaotic scenes following the mauling, with the snow leopard standing over the injured tourist before leaving the area, after which fellow tourists assisted her.

The Forestry and Grassland Bureau urged the public and visitors to strictly follow safety guidelines, maintain a safe distance from wild animals, and report incidents to police to ensure personal safety.

Snow leopards, among the most elusive wild animals, are under “first-class protection” in China due to threats from poaching, habitat loss, and climate change, a Chinese magazine, Sixth Tone, reported. The Snow Leopard Trust estimates there are 3,900 to 6,400 snow leopards worldwide across 2 million square kilometers, mainly in high, rocky mountains. Normally solitary and highly active, snow leopards are not known to be aggressive toward humans, and their thick white-gray coats help them blend into their surroundings.