HAIKOU /China/, October 16. /TASS/. The small population of rare gibbons in the southern Chinese province of Hainan is gradually increasing, Hainan Ribao reported.

According to the newspaper, there are now 44 gibbons on the island, comprising seven groups, compared to 35 five years ago. The local ecosystem continues to recover and thrive. Since the establishment of the Hainan Rainforest National Park on October 12, 2021, scientists have discovered 91 new species of wild flora and fauna within its boundaries.

The article pointed out that the International Union for Conservation of Nature has recognized Hainan’s gibbon conservation model as an exemplary model for protecting rare species. Thus, the global community has adopted the experience of China’s southernmost province to restore biodiversity in other regions of the world.

Hainan Ribao noted that the abovementioned forest park effectively protects more than 95% of the territory where trees have virtually remained untouched by human activity, which comprises 55% of the island’s natural forest. The Chinese authorities provide round-the-clock monitoring and control of this area, including through the use of satellite data. According to official statistics, the Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) of this region increased by nearly 4.4 billion yuan, or about $655 million, from 2019 to 2024.

The newspaper emphasized that a 466-kilometer tourist route encircles the forest park. It connects nine provincial administrative units and boosts revenue for local companies operating in the culture and tourism sectors.

Hainan gibbons inhabit the central and southern parts of the island. They prefer to live in the tree canopy about ten meters high, making it difficult to monitor these primates that do not reproduce well in captivity. These mammals feed on both plant matter and small animals. In China, they are under the vigilant protection of the state.