Endangered Hainan gibbons Photo: Sina Weibo

A family of highly endangered Hainan gibbons got two new members in 2021, increasing the number of the species to 35. 

The two gibbon infants were first spotted by staff at the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest in March, and were estimated to be around 6-7 months old. The two cherished Hainan gibbons were healthy and developing well. 

The addition of the two Hainan gibbon infants was obviously exciting news due to the fact that this particular gibbon species is extremely rare. There are currently 20 species of endangered gibbon, 14 of which are endangered and five of which are extremely endangered. 

Even with the two new infants, there are still only 35 Hainan gibbons in the world. The last new addition to the troupe came in 2020. The species is one of the 25 endangered primate species. 

The exciting news as well as conservation plans concerning the Hainan gibbon was announced by the administration of the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest at the 7th International Union for Conservation of Nature in Marseille, France, on Sunday. 

The new gibbon infants suggest that the living environment and conditions for the species are improving and that the tropical rainforest and other natural ecological spaces in Hainan have been restored and expanded to provide a better habitat for the animals. 

The national park has also invited the public to pitch names for the two infants on its official website.