Rare gibbon spotted in Yunnan again after 2 years

The Yingjiang county in Dehong Dai and Jingpo autonomous prefecture, western Yunnan province, has been considered the major habitat of a rare primate species known as Gaoligong gibbon or Skywalker gibbon.

In the end of December, 2020, a team of wildlife photographers captured a 2-year-old Gaoligong gibbon that had been spotted in 2018 when he was just born.

A photo from that time shows that he could barely leave his mother’s arms. But after 2 years, this gibbon is already capable of swinging in trees.

According to statistics, this family of Gaoligong gibbons —with 6 members in all at present —has been confirmed by scientists as the largest family of such nationwide.

It is believed that there are as many as 13 Gaoligong gibbons from 3 different families inhabiting in Yingjiang. “I’m looking forward to seeing the birth of more gibbons,” says Yu Zhongfu , a local resident.  

Reporting by Zhu Bianyong (People's Daily); trans-editing by Wang Jingzhong