Three nationally protected wildlife species — the leopard, white-lipped deer, and Eurasian lynx — have been recorded together for the first time in the Nujiang River basin in southern Chamdo, Xizang autonomous region, according to Xizang Daily.

The discovery was made during a joint ecological assessment conducted by Chamdo's forestry and grassland bureau, the Southwest Survey and Planning Institute of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, and the Kunming Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Three nationally protected wildlife species — the leopard, the white-lipped deer, and the Eurasian lynx — have been recorded together for the first time in the Nujiang River basin in southern Chamdo, Xizang autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Researchers said the three species, all under China's Class I or Class II national protection, were detected in the same area through field surveys and monitoring efforts. The finding indicates that the ecosystem in the southern Nujiang River basin remains well preserved, with a stable food chain capable of supporting top predators and large herbivores.

The leopard is a top predator that primarily preys on hoofed animals. The white-lipped deer, endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the world's highest-altitude large deer species. The Eurasian lynx is a medium-sized predator adapted to environments ranging from forests to alpine deserts.

Three nationally protected wildlife species — the leopard, the white-lipped deer, and the Eurasian lynx — have been recorded together for the first time in the Nujiang River basin in southern Chamdo, Xizang autonomous region. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

According to researchers, previous knowledge of the distribution of the three species in southeastern Xizang was limited. The new records help fill gaps in regional biodiversity data and will support future studies on wildlife evolution and adaptation on the plateau.

Officials attributed the discovery to ongoing conservation efforts in Chamdo, where biodiversity surveys and ecological protection programs have also documented snow leopards, Asian golden cats, and leopard cats in recent years.