Hainan gibbon in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. (Source: the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park)

China's National Forestry and Grassland Administration recently published updated data indicating that over 200 rare and endangered wildlife species across the country are now experiencing population recovery and growth.

Among them, the population of the Hainan gibbon population has grown to 44 individuals across seven groups, making it the only gibbon population worldwide to show continuous growth and showcasing the success of tropical rainforest conservation efforts in China.

The Hainan gibbon is among the world's most critically endangered primates. It not only serves as a flagship species for the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park but is also a vital indicator of the ecosystem’s overall health.

By the late 1970s, the species dwindled to just two groups, totaling seven to nine individuals. Through years of targeted conservation, the population has gradually rebounded, becoming the only gibbon group globally to experience consistent growth.

In recent years, Hainan has actively enhanced its technology-based conservation initiatives. Researchers now utilize infrared cameras and smart monitoring devices to continuously track the Hainan gibbon, enabling a growing understanding of its population dynamics, breeding behaviors, and activity routines to aid scientific conservation efforts.

Hainan gibbon in the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. (Source: the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park)

Meanwhile, conservation teams have been advancing habitat restoration efforts by creating ecological corridors and planting native trees that provide food sources, thereby expanding the gibbons' habitat.

To date, the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has constructed 38 rope corridors, restored over 5,000 mu (around 333 hectares) of habitat, and planted more than 300,000 native trees, greatly enhancing ecological connectivity throughout the tropical rainforest.

The national park has also formulated the Hainan Gibbon Population Conservation and Recovery Action Plan, outlining a goal and a roadmap to double the gibbon population within the next 15 years.

As scientific monitoring systems advance and ecological restoration progresses, the conservation of this rare species is entering a new phase.