Guwahati, Oct. 22 -- Two gibbon species, native to Yunan, have been declared extinct in the wild in China. A report -Assessment of the Status of China's Endangered Primates released recently stated the white-handed gibbon (Hylobates lar) and the northern white-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys) were not seen in the wild for at least 10 years, meeting the criteria for being declared extinct in the wild. Human activities led to the decline, researchers concluded. Habitat loss, hunting and trading for the pet market brought primates to the edge globally.

Every extinct species is a warning sign. The Living Planet Report 2026 came as a stark warning revealing there was an average decline of 73 per cent in monitored wildlife populations betw...