Pic story of forest ranger in Hainan, S China

Li Wenyong is a forest ranger at Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park on the south China island province. He lives in Miao Village of Qingsong Township, which is under the jurisdiction of Baisha Li Autonomous County, and the nearest village to the park's Bawangling area. This is the heart of Hainan gibbon country.

The black-crested apes can only be found in Hainan, and as they rarely set foot on the ground, only in rainforest trees over 10 meters high.

As the world's rarest primate, Hainan gibbons are currently classed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

In addition to patrolling the mountains, Li is also responsible for monitoring the gibbons. Using the sounds and calls made by the forest's Hainan gibbon residents, Li observes the species; scribbling notes and snapping pictures.

Over the past 13 years, Li has amassed a collection of about 100,000 Hainan gibbon pictures.

The protection efforts in recent years are already paying off. Latest official figures show that Hainan's gibbon population has increased to 37, consisting of six families.

This photo taken in 2022 shows a Hainan gibbon in the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, south China's Hainan Province.

Li Wenyong works in the Bawangling area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park, south China's Hainan Province.

Li Wenyong shows a pair of worn-out shoes in Baisha Li Autonomous County, south China's Hainan Province​.

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