Deep in the misty mountains of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, a Jurassic-era secret has been hiding in plain sight: a lush forest teeming with over 3,000 endangered spider-monkey tree ferns 🌿. These towering green giants, dating back 180 million years, were recently discovered in a 428,000-acre reserve—and they’re thriving!
The magical find began when wildlife filmmaker Zhou Baolin stumbled upon the ferns while scouting for a documentary near De’an Town. "They looked straight out of a dinosaur movie!" Zhou told China News Service. His quick report to conservationists sparked a major survey confirming the ferns’ centuries-old sanctuary.
Known as Alsophila spinulosa, these ferns are living fossils—once widespread but now rare due to habitat loss. Scientists call the discovery a "biodiversity jackpot" for understanding plant evolution and climate resilience. Local authorities are now ramping up protections to keep this prehistoric paradise safe 🛡️.
