[Explanation] The Hainan Provincial Information Office held a press conference on September 1 to announce that the world's most endangered primate, the Hainan Gibbon, has formed a new family group and added a young ape.
So far, "the loneliest relative of mankind" has recovered to 5 groups with a total of 33.
It is understood that on August 18, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Forestry recorded one male and one female and two adult Hainanese gibbons in Dongbengling, Dabing Village, Qingsong Township, Baisha Li Autonomous County, Hainan. They were identified as a newly formed group E (the fifth group). Group), and confirm the spread of the Hainan gibbon habitat.
On August 29, the monitoring staff discovered that the female apes in the group were hugging a cub.
[Concurrent] Zhou Yadong, Chief Engineer of Hainan Forestry Bureau
This time the Hainan gibbons are happy to add juveniles, which fully proves that the tropical rain forests of Hainan have been well protected, and the natural ecological spaces such as tropical rain forests have been expanded. The ecological corridors of Hainan gibbons extending from the Axtou Ridge area of Bawangling have initially formed. The construction of the park is beginning to show results.
[Concurrent] Zhou Jiang, Head of Reproductive Biology of Hainan Gibbon
I hope that the (young ape) can (like) the name "Pingping" just named it, can be safe, can reach sexual maturity as soon as possible, and then make its due contribution to the rejuvenation of the Hainan gibbon population.
[Explanation] Hainan gibbons belong to the same primate order as humans, and are only distributed in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.
Due to population growth and deforestation, there were only 7 Hainan gibbons at the end of the 1970s. They were listed as the “world’s most endangered primate” by the World Conservation Union. Their endangered level has far exceeded that of the “national treasure” giant pandas and giant pandas. Crested Ibis.
Zhou Jiang, the head of the Hainan Gibbon Reproductive Biology Research Project, said that in the past 40 years, Hainan Gibbon has increased from 7 to 33, and the breeding population has increased to 5. Although the recovery rate is slow, it is gratifying that it is still growing.
Hainan gibbons, like humans, have their own criteria for choosing a mate, and only when the two are happy to reproduce.
[Concurrent] Zhou Jiang, Head of Reproductive Biology of Hainan Gibbon
The reproductive biology of wild animals, wild mammals, or wild primates is very (unique). It has mate selection, sexual attraction, and mate selection. We don’t mean that it happens when one male and one male are locked together. After mating, it will produce offspring.
Reporter Li Yufan reports from Haikou
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]