Rainforest brings gibbons back from edge of extinction

Boon for gibbons

The national park has given the Hainan gibbons a new lease of life. The population of the species is on the rise, and their distinctive calls that have earned them the moniker of the "Rainforest Song King "can be heard across the verdant landscape. The gibbons, considered the indigenous inhabitants of Hainan province, are emblematic of the region's tropical rainforest ecosystem.

Just over two decades ago, these forest creatures were on the brink of extinction. A large-scale survey in 2003 revealed the presence of just 13 primates living in two family groups. By 2005, the Hainan gibbon monitoring team had been established, kickstarting years of conservation efforts. By 2019, the gibbon population had grown to 30 apes in four family groups.

Zhong Yufei, deputy director of the Bawangling branch of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park Administration, detailed the measures taken to restore the Hainan gibbons' habitat. Targeting fragmented and deteriorated habitats, the branch enhanced habitat quality through the reintroduction of native tree species like ficus altissima blume and bischofia polycarpa, known to be favored by the gibbons. Also, ecological restoration initiatives included the establishment of six rope corridors to facilitate the gibbons' movement across habitats.

"The Hainan gibbon population has rebounded to 42 primates in seven family groups," Zhong said. "Through the unwavering dedication and initiatives of successive conservationists, the path to the resurgence of the Hainan gibbons has become more assured."

Han Wentao, deputy head of the information center at the Bawangling branch, emphasized the deployment of camera monitors in the Hainan gibbons' habitat.

"This technology empowers staff to remotely observe the gibbons' behavior and feeding patterns from their workstations, offering insights for monitoring and studying the gibbons' survival dynamics," he said.

Technological advancements are also being widely integrated into the daily patrolling and conservation efforts within the tropical rainforest. In the Bawangling area, forest rangers are equipped with special smartphones that connect to an information management platform, recording each patrol's time and route.

When monitoring personnel require specific data during patrols, they can easily access and export it from the management platform, streamlining the process for enhanced efficiency.

By establishing a provincial-level intelligent management center, a smart rainforest big data platform, and initiating the "sky-ground" integrated comprehensive monitoring system project, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park is exploring the creation of a tropical rainforest monitoring system that aims to enhance ecological environmental monitoring capabilities through informatization and intelligence.