The establishment of a patrol monitoring team in the Gaoligongshan area will help strengthen anti-poaching efforts.

In order to continue to strengthen the patrol monitoring and anti-poaching efforts on the key distribution areas of the white-browed gibbons in the Gaoligongshan area, on July 2, China's first white-browed gibbon patrol monitoring team was formally established in Gaoligong Mountain.

The first gibbous patrol monitoring team is divided into 10 teams. The personnel are composed of forest guards from Gaoligongshan Dashu Dufu, Natural Park, Dabanchang, Qinglongshan, Daganba, Yingletang and Xiaobanchang. At the inauguration ceremony, the director of the Baoshan Administration of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve stated that the administration will also formulate a protection plan for the white-browed gibbons for 5 to 10 years.

Zhang Wei, senior project officer of SEE Foundation, Yang Fangyi, director of climate change project of Beijing Shanshui Nature Conservation Center, Huang Xiaoyan, executive manager of Yunnan Green Development Foundation, and Fei Hanlan, associate professor of East Himalayan Institute of Ecology of Dali University, attended the ceremony.

The white-browed gibbon living in Gaoligong Mountain accounts for 80% of the country.

The white-browed gibbon is listed as a Grade I key protected wild animal in China and is listed as a global endangered species by IUCN. The white-browed gibbon has been widely distributed in the fields of Lishui, Baoshan, Tengchong, Longling, Yingjiang, Luanchuan, Daixi and Ruili.

Qi Tao introduced that from 1992 to 1994, the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated the distribution and quantity of Chinese white-browed gibbons. The results showed that the white-browed gibbons may have been extinct in the areas of Lishui, Daixi and Ruili, and the main population of preserved populations. In the southern section of the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve.

“From 2006 to 2019, Baoshan Administration of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, together with the Chinese Academy of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, and Dali College, conducted an in-depth investigation on the distribution of the white-browed gibbons. The survey results show that 80% of the domestic gibbons are distributed in China. In Longyang District and Tengchong County of Baoshan City, there are about 150.” Qi Tao said that the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve has become the last refuge of the white-browed gibbons in China, and will also become a key area for the research and protection of the white-browed gibbons. .

In order to increase and encourage protection, on March 30, 2019, China Wildlife Conservation Association officially awarded Baoshan City the title of “China's White-browed Gibbon”. In March 2019, at the SEE-GF Small Population Species Protection Joint Action Consultation and Launching Conference, the White-browed Gibbon was one of the two most popular endorsement stars in Yunnan Province.

Four major crises affect the survival of the white-browed gibbon

Although it has received much attention, the white-browed gibbon is still facing four major crises. "White-browed gibbon is mainly faced with four major survival threats and pressures of habitat fragmentation, poaching, small populations, and lack of protection awareness." Tao Tao said that since 2019, the Authority has proposed the use of four star species to promote nature conservation. With the refined management of the district, the white-browed gibbon has become a business card carefully constructed in the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve.

By increasing the patrol, monitoring and research efforts of the white-browed gibbons, the protection of the moderately wet long-leaved broad-leaved forest and the subtropical monsoon forest in the protected area is promoted. The current administration has been with Dali University and Southwest Forestry University. Monitoring and research in large plate fields, natural parks, and big tree rhododendrons have initially grasped the living conditions of the white-browed gibbons and increased the monitoring of patrols, which has effectively protected the white-browed gibbons in the area.

The monitoring team will tour the mountains 20 days a week

Qi Tao said that the 10 monitoring teams established this time are composed of experienced forest guards from Gaoligongshan Dahetou, Yi, Mang, Dabanchang, Liantangtang and Xiaobanchang. The SEE Foundation project will Fund the project.

After the establishment of the monitoring team, the team members will have 20 days of mountain patrol in one month, mainly to monitor the activity area of ​​the white-browed gibbons, to find out their living rules, and to stop artificial hunting activities.

Yan Tao also introduced that the Baoshan Administration is working on a plan for the protection of the white-browed gibbon in the Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve in the next 5 to 10 years. “The plan is divided into five steps and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.” Tao Tao said that the protected area will map the current distribution of the white-browed gibbons, and will analyze the current protection status and dangers after the bottoming. Protection measures are established based on the dangers that exist, and protection activities will follow.