A wild sable stands in snow in the forest around Laolike Lake in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, Jilin province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A photographer recently captured images of wild sables in the forest around Laolike Lake in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture in Jilin province.

The sables were seen running, climbing trees and just looking around in deep snow.

They are a first-class protected animal in China and inhabit broadleaf-conifer mixed forests on Changbai Mountain and in the Lesser Khingan Mountains.

Because of protection efforts over the years, the number of sable species has increased significantly in the mountain areas of Jilin.

A wild sable stands in snow in the forest around Laolike Lake in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, Jilin province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two wild sables stand in deep snow near Laolike Lake in Yanbian Korean autonomous prefecture, Jilin province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]