Human beings have done a tremendous amount of damage to the animal kingdom, so much that some species of it have become scarce, almost on the verge of extinction. The animals get poached for their skin, teeth, and fur and their habitat is stolen by us. One such animal suffering is the Hainan Black Crested Gibbon.
The Hainan Black Crested Gibbon is the world's rarest ape, rarest primate and most probably the rarest mammal species as well. There were once about 2000 of them in the 1950s, after which they went under severe decline during the twentieth century due to habitat loss and hunting. The Nomascus Hainanus is now one of the most endangered species in the world with an estimated 28 individuals only.
This tiny surviving population is now living in a single forest patch in the Bawangling National Nature Reserve on Hainan Island which is a part of China.The remaining population of the island has been decreasing since the past 20 years. Due to their already reduced and vulnerable population, they require intensive, carefully planned and coordinated conservation management.
One of the main reasons why their species is threatened is loss of habitat. These animals have great speed when it comes to swinging from branch to branch and remain very active, due to which they require a large forest area. Having them as pets is illegal for it is nearly impossible to replicate their dwelling. Another reason why they cannot be adopted is that they can be dangerous if threatened.
Now you might ask why the female Hainan Gibbon can not produce more heirs. However the truth remains that the female hainan gibbon can mate only twice in its lifetime, hence leading to a quicker decline.
The Hainan gibbons species is considered to be of a lesser ape for they are much smaller in size than most apes, like gorillas. Yet they come under the ape category because of the fact that they do not have a tail. They show sexual dichromatism which is a form of sexual dimorphism that refers to the difference in colouration between sexes within a species. Due to this the male and female Hainan gibbons differ in their appearance. The male hainan gibbons have a fur coat which is black, white cheeks and a crown while the females have a golden or buff coloured coat, black cheeks and a crown.
These apes are omnivorous, with an average weight of 6 to 10 kilograms, and are about 1.5 to 1.6 feet tall. The females are smaller than the males. The apes move at an astounding speed of 55 kilometers per hour. They are usually found on tall trees and lowland forests. They mostly consume fruits and leaves which makes them frugivorous and folivorous, along with eating insects and bird eggs. They are mostly found in groups of four or five which are called ‘family’. There is usually only one alpha male and many females along with their off-springs. These types of groups are known as ‘polygonous’. Their life span usually ranges between 55-60 years.
Most gibbons communicate through a special song. The Hainan gibbons are no exception. The first thing that they do in the morning is sing to maintain territorial boundaries, advertise to potential mates and enhance family bonds.
They are an arboreal species, which means that they live exclusively on trees. Much unlike other ape species, the gibbons do not make nests to sleep in. They choose their sleeping places very carefully, paying great attention to the branches being large and strong. Upon the branch they sleep in an upright position with their knees tucked up to their chest and their arms wrapped around themselves. These gibbons also have ischial callosities on their buttocks. These are specially evolved hard seat pads which are there to avoid sores while sitting on the hard and rough branches.
A lot of effort has been put in from the side of the conservationists. They have tried many schemes, and as of now they seem to be working. The population of the Hainan gibbons remains consistent.
The fate of the Hainan Gibbons portrays the cruelty of mankind and brings to us that the earth and environment is not only ours to use but is also shared with a million other species. Humanity has to quit drowning in their own selfishness, start looking at the world around and try to make it a better and safer place for all species.
Bibliography:
Zoological Society of London. "Hainan gibbon guide: where they’re found, and why they’re so rare" Discover Wildlife. 23 Oct, 2019. Web. 23 Mar, 2022. <https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/mammals/facts-about-hainan-gibbons/>
Kidadl Team. ”Hainan Gibbon: 17 Facts You Won't Believe” Kidadl. 6 Aug, 2021. Web. 23 Mar, 2022. <https://kidadl.com/animal-facts/hainan-gibbon-facts?>
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