Abstract:

Aims: Gibbons were once widely distributed in China. Due to massive habitat loss, gibbon distribution range shrunk from north to south, and from east to west in China. Nowadays, they can only be found in remote areas in Yunnan, Guangxi, Hainan, and South Tibet. To promote research and conservation of gibbons in China, I provided a chronological overview of the research history and major advances in the study of gibbons in China. 

Methods: I reviewed the literature relevant to gibbon morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny, genetics, ecology, and conservation in China, and presented the results in three sections arranged chronologically. 

Results: More than 2000 years ago, ancient Chinese people have distinguished gibbons from monkeys, and briefly described their morphology. Over the following more than 1,000 years, the ancient Chinese people’s understanding of the gibbon gradually deepened, and they provided descriptions of its distribution, behavioral and coat color changes. Since 1980, with the deepening of investigations and the increase in the number of specimens collected, Chinese scholars have gradually clarified the distribution and taxonomy of gibbons in China. At this time, scholars from China and abroad began to study the behavior and ecology of gibbons in China and made initial progress. After 2000, scholars successfully habituated wild gibbons, conducted year around observations, and continuously monitored some populations, obtaining detailed data on the behavior, ecology, social structure, and life history of various species. Meanwhile, new technologies such as infrared cameras, drones, and passive acoustic monitoring have been applied to the research and protection of gibbons in China. In this section, I synthesized the research progress in nine key areas: taxonomy and phylogenetics, population genetics, home range and habitat utilization, foraging behavior, communication, sleeping behavior, social organization and structure, life history and reproduction, as well as conservation. 

Conclusion: Significant progress has been made in the research and conservation of Chinese gibbons over the past 20 years. Some gibbon populations in China has shown signs of recovery. In the future, with the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation, the research focus of gibbons in our country will shift to conservation studies. In-depth research on the nutritional ecology, reproductive ecology and interspecific competition of gibbons, as well as the development and application of new population monitoring technologies, translocation of small isolated individuals, and reintroduction of captive gibbons to their historical habitat will further promote the population recovery of gibbons in China. No scientific research can do without the training of talents. It is hoped that more young people will devote themselves to the research and protection of gibbons in our country.

Key words: gibbon, taxonomy, population genetics, feeding, communication, sleeping, social organization and structure, life history, breeding.