An injured snow leopard was recently saved by a local farmer and police in Baicheng County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China.

The animal, an endangered species under state-level protection, fell from a 30-meter-high cliff on May 6 while trying to catch a sheep in a farmyard. It was chased by a pack of dogs and fell off the cliff. The leopard was found seriously injured by a farmer and was sent by police to the county's wild animal protection station. After several days of medical treatment, the animal is showing signs of recovery.

(www.tianshannet.com May 18, 2007)