Deep in the heart of Hainan’s Bawangling National Nature Reserve—a biodiversity hotspot established in 1988—scientists are uncovering rare glimpses of critically endangered species thriving against the odds. At the center of this ecological treasure? The Hainan black-crested gibbon, one of the world’s rarest primates, with fewer than 40 individuals left in the wild.
But the gibbons aren’t the only stars here. The reserve shelters the elusive clouded leopard, dubbed the 'ghost of the forest,' and the vibrant Hainan partridge, both under China’s strictest state-level protection. Dozens of other protected animals, from flying squirrels to rare amphibians, call this lush tropical rainforest home.
Why does this matter? Bawangling’s success highlights China’s growing focus on conservation. With over 30 years of protected status, the reserve has become a living lab for studying endangered species recovery—a story of hope for our planet’s fragile ecosystems.
At the center of this ecological treasure? The Hainan black-crested gibbon, one of the world’s rarest primates, with fewer than 40 individuals left in the wild.
here. The reserve shelters the elusive clouded leopard, dubbed the 'ghost of the forest,' and the vibrant Hainan partridge, both under China’s strictest state-level protection. Dozens of other protected animals, from flying squirrels to rare amphibians, call this lush tropical rainforest home.
Why does this matter? Bawangling’s success highlights China’s growing focus on conservation. With over 30 years of protected status, the reserve has become a living lab for studying endangered species recovery—a story of hope for our planet’s fragile ecosystems.
