"The wounded animal lost consciousness a couple of minutes later. The fox grabbed it and left.

"I was conflicted about the potential results when I saw the fox was going to attack. The perfect ending would have been both of them still alive after a fight. I could shoot the battle, and they'd both leave safely."

The pictures following Bao's award-winning shot are grisly.

"That's nature," he says.

He took thousands of photos over three hours that day.

But the gruesomeness of the images meant he didn't review them until a week later.

Bao realized while speaking with the nature photographers attending the awards ceremony that they had limited knowledge about China's wildlife. He showed them several images he shot with his phone.

"They were surprised by the diversity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's wildlife. They'd never seen some of the animals. They'd like to visit."

Bao's award-winning image went viral online. Netizens edited it into memes featuring dialogues between the two creatures.

The photographer is impressed by netizens' creativity. He's happy that the memes enable more people to know about these animals.

He himself knows a great deal about the area's wildlife.

"Snow leopards are difficult to spot. It becomes a bit easier if you know where they breed and hunt," he says.

Bao would use an infrared camera to record creatures' activities and study their habits.

He'd then find a good spot to wait for hours or even days.

"I bring some simple food, water and a sleeping bag. Sometimes, I'll visit herders' homes for meals and then return to my spot."

He keeps a distance from the animals. If they seem comfortable with his presence, he'll move closer.

"They're smart. They notice you. But they get used to you soon if they believe you're not a threat."

He sometimes hides in holes, and uses grass and branches for camouflage.

Bao's goal is to record the lives of every species on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, including mating and feeding.

"You can learn things from animals, like patience. A snow leopard can remain perfectly still for a whole day while hunting. But we humans lack such patience."

He believes wildlife photography's purpose is to present pristine nature.

"I've come to realize there's still much to be done for environmental protection," he says.

"I believe it's my responsibility to show people that wild animals are humans' indispensable friends."