'Nearly blind' snow leopard sees brighter future

XINING－Linghan is now over 11 years old and nearing the upper reaches of the average life span for wild snow leopards. Weak, fatigued and almost blind when he was rescued, he now has a bright future after successful cataract surgery in Xining, Qinghai province, on Nov 26.

The injured animal was found by a park officer in Zadoi county in early January and sent to Xining Wildlife Park. Because he was rescued on the "Big Chill" day, one of China's 24 solar terms, he was named Linghan, meaning "braving the cold".

"Linghan weighed only about 25 kilograms when he first arrived. Anyone could tell from his dull coat that he was in poor condition," said Qi Xinzhang, deputy director of the park.