[Note: undated footage]

In Russia's Altai region, a camera trap capturing the playful antics of young snow leopard cubs was subjected to a "mauling."

The footage shows one cub grooming itself after a kill, then playfully investigating the camera. The cub knocks it over and paws it, leaving the lens pointing at the sky. Another cub also approaches the camera.

Snow leopards are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with fewer than 10,000 remaining in the wild. Capturing them on camera is challenging, and this incident was recorded by a full-format professional camera protected by a plastic box with a motion sensor.

The camera's operator, Ilya Trukhanov, described the project as a way to study snow leopards and capture their unique behavior. Director Denis Malikov stated that while the cubs' behavior is typical, the camera footage helps researchers study the animals and distinguish between individuals based on their fur patterns.

This type of camera footage of snow leopards in Russia is rare, and it offers valuable insights into their behavior and conservation.