The following is a guest post featuring the work of a student enrolled in SA 202: Introduction to Anthropology. This exceptional work highlights the importance of primate conservation. I hope you find this piece informative and are inspired to make a positive change in the world that will help this and other endangered primates.
Hainan Gibbons (Photo credit: Laurent Rivasseau/Flickr/Creative Commons)
By: Donovan Joyner
Across the globe, animal species face extinction at an
alarming rate, with primates among the most threatened. As our closest
biological relatives, primates play a crucial role in biodiversity, culture,
and ecosystems. However, without immediate conservation efforts, many of these
species will disappear forever. The Hainan gibbon, the world’s rarest ape,
exemplifies this crisis. With fewer than 40 individuals remaining, its survival
is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and environmental changes. Protecting
primates like the Hainan gibbon requires urgent awareness, conservation initiatives,
and strong wildlife protection laws to prevent their extinction and preserve
the balance of our ecosystem.
In the deep jungle on the secluded Hainan Island within Chinese territory, an elusive primate known as the Hainan gibbon resides. Hainan gibbons have silky, plush-like coats with distinct coloring differences between males and females (Downey 2). Males have entirely black fur, sometimes with fluffy golden cheek patches and a mohawk-like crest. Females, on the other hand, have golden fur with a black crown patch extending to the nape, yellow whiskers, and a white facial outline (Downey 2). Young gibbons start with a pale buff coat similar to adult females, but by the age of five, males turn black, while females develop a richer golden hue (Downey 2).
Hainan gibbons are primarily frugivores, favoring figs, lychee, berries, flowers, seeds, bamboo shoots, and young leaves. Occasionally, they consume insects or small lizards for extra protein and calcium. They drink water from tree hollows or leaves. Habitat loss due to plantations has limited their diet, forcing them to rely mainly on Banyan trees (figs) and wild banana trees, which provide year-round sustenance. Downey notes that these trees have become a crucial food source as other dietary options decline.
According to Downey, the Hainan gibbon is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN (Downey 2) and is considered the world’s rarest ape, with only 37 individuals in seven groups as of 2024 (Turvey 2). Despite conservation efforts leading to a slow population increase, repopulation remains extremely difficult due to habitat destruction, genetic decline, and human activities. The Hainan gibbon faces several critical threats to its survival. Habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by agriculture, illegal logging, and expanding human settlements, have significantly reduced its living space. Hunting and illegal trade have also played a major role in its decline, as the gibbons have been killed for bushmeat, used in traditional medicine, and captured for the pet trade (Downey 2). Additionally, low genetic diversity poses a serious risk, which threatens their long-term survival. Furthermore, environmental risks, including annual typhoons, potential epidemics, and pollution, continue to endanger the species, leaving it on the brink of extinction (Downey 2).
Thanks to over a decade of conservation efforts, government support, and local community involvement, their population is slowly increasing. However, urgent action is needed to expand and protect their remaining lowland forest habitat, requiring ongoing collaboration (Schwitzer 73). Protecting the Hainan gibbon requires intensive, well-planned conservation efforts. Despite decades of conservation work, the gibbon population in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park has remained small, with only 20–30 individuals and limited breeding groups, putting the species at serious risk. Ensuring the long-term survival of the species depends on reducing conflicts between local communities and gibbons, making evidence-based conservation decisions, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders (Turvey 2). The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is committed to securing the future of the Hainan gibbon by strengthening habitat protection, improving forest connectivity, and promoting gibbon population growth. Their efforts focus on monitoring habitat needs, encouraging new group formation, and expanding the gibbon’s range into high-quality habitats within the park. Additionally, ZSL aims to better understand the broader threats to Hainan’s endemic biodiversity to support long-term conservation success (Turvey 2).
The New England Primate Conservancy states the Hainan gibbon plays a vital role in the health of the ecosystem on Hainan Island. Any disruptions that harm the gibbon also indicate broader environmental threats to other species (Downey 3). Historically, Hainan gibbons have played a crucial role in seed dispersal, helping regenerate native plant species by spreading seeds through their feces. However, continued habitat destruction and the species' critically low population now threaten this natural process, endangering both plant life and the wildlife that depends on it (Downey 3).
The Endangered Species International Inc. states in their article “Why Primates Matter”: “nonhuman primates are our closest biological relatives and are essential to ecosystems, cultures, religions, and local livelihoods” because they play a crucial role in regenerating tropical forests, as well as maintaining a healthy ecological balance by dispersing seeds and contributing to forest growth. Their survival is vital for biodiversity, as their extinction would have far-reaching consequences for ecosystems and the species that depend on them.
Works Cited
“Conservation Needs for Primates.” Endangered Species International, www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/news_jan17.html. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Downey, Kathleen. “Hainan Gibbon, Nomascus Hainanus - New England Primate Conservancy.” New England Primate Conservancy - Committed to Leaving a Legacy of Hope and Tools to Build a Better Tomorrow for All the Earth’s Citizens, 14 Nov. 2024, neprimateconservancy.org/hainan-gibbon/.
Schwitzer, Christoph. “Primates in Peril : The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2016-2018.” IUCN, 5 Jan. 2023,
iucn.org/resources/jointly-published/primates-peril-worlds-25-most-endangered-primates-2016-2018.
Turvey, Samuel. “Hainan Gibbon Conservation.” ZSL, www.zsl.org/what-we-do/projects/hainan-gibbon-conservation. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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