The fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) kicked off on Sunday in Haikou, the capital of South China’s Hainan Province. This year’s event features its beloved mascots, Yuanyuan and Xiaoxiao, inspired by the critically endangered Hainan gibbons.
Sporting new outfits each year, the mascots now appear as members of a tropical rainforest conservation research team. Their latest look pays tribute to Hainan’s ongoing efforts in rainforest protection, reflecting the province’s commitment to building a greener future.
Endemic to Hainan Island, the Hainan gibbons are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They reproduce slowly, with new generations born only every two to three years, making them key indicators of the rainforest’s health, including biodiversity, habitat quality, and climate regulation.
Once on the brink of extinction with just seven to nine individuals in the late 1970s, the species has steadily recovered. A comprehensive survey in 2003 identified only two groups totaling 13 individuals. In 2005, a dedicated Hainan gibbon monitoring team was established.
Years of conservation and monitoring have yielded remarkable results. Recent data shows that the Hainan gibbon population has grown to 42 individuals across seven family groups. With continued protection and no major disturbances, the population is projected to double, reaching 60 to 70 individuals by 2035.
