Abstract:

Aims: Gibbons were once widely distributed in China. Due to massive habitat loss, gibbons’ 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 Xizang. To promote research and conservation of gibbons in China, this review provided a chronological overview of the research history and major advances in the study of gibbons in China.

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

Results: More than 2,000 years ago, ancient Chinese people could distinguish gibbons from monkeys, and briefly described their morphology. Over the following more than 1,000 years, the ancient Chinese people’s understanding of gibbons gradually deepened, and they provided descriptions of its distribution, behavior, 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 conservation of gibbons in China. This review synthesized the research progress in nine key areas: taxonomy and phylogeny, 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 have shown signs of recovery. In the future, with the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation, the research focus of gibbons in China 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 get involved in the research and conservation of gibbons in China.

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