Emerging technologies contribute to Hainan gibbon protection

Emerging technologies are regarded as key to wild animal protection. In recent years, they have played a crucial role in protecting Hainan gibbons.

Hainan gibbons are rare primates in the world and can only be found in the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park in South China's Hainan province. Their number has grown to 35 from less than 10 since 1980.

Huang Jincheng, head of the Forestry Department of Hainan Province, announces discovery of two new-born Hainan gibbons on Sept 5, 2021. By then, the number of the species had grown to 35. [Photo/IC]

A Hainan gibbon survey campaign was launched in 2021, intending to regularly map the latest status of the species' population and habitat.

According to Qi Xuming, senior engineer and coordinator of the survey, eight stations and 21 monitoring points are set up for the survey, covering all habitats of the Hainan gibbons. A total of 48 team members are participating.

The survey will provide data support for Hainan gibbon conservation and play a key role in updating information and making conservation plans for the species.

The Hainan National Park Research Institute signed an agreement with relevant departments of the region on cultivation and building of professional teams for Hainan gibbon investigation.

In addition to the survey campaign and regular monitoring activities, many comprehensive monitoring systems based on emerging technologies have also been launched to promote biodiversity conservation and national park construction.

Zhang Yan, representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in China, said that technological means can significantly improve accessibility and effectiveness of relevant data, and provide more possibilities, opportunities and innovations for convenient and efficient nature conservation

The IUCN and Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. joined hands with the Hainan National Park Research Institute to initiate the Tech4Nature Technology Guarding Nature Initiative. The three sides will work together to monitor, record and transmit Hainan gibbon calls, laying a foundation for future cloud storage, artificial intelligence (AI)-based acoustic analysis and construction of a Hainan gibbon acoustic database.