"extinct" species resurfaces! is the sixth mass extinction on the horizon?
can extinct species reappear? throughout the history of the earth, countless species h**e gone extinct. but occasionally, we witness the reappearance of species that were once declared extinct. what is the reason behind this phenomenon? is it the cycle of life on earth?
according to a report by china national radio, the eastern black crested gibbon, classified as a first-class protected species in china, was believed to h**e gone extinct with only 140 individuals left in the world. as early as the 1950s, the eastern black crested gibbon was declared extinct internationally. the famous tang dynasty poet li bai wrote, "no stopping the cries of gibbons on both sides of the strait, for the light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains." this poem describes the calls of the gibbons, which are very melodious, earning them the title of "prince of mountain songs" in the animal kingdom. in ancient times, the eastern black crested gibbon was abundant and widely distributed. however, due to various reasons, their habitats gradually diminished, and their population declined. they were deemed extinct. china declared the eastern black crested gibbon extinct in the 1950s, and vietnam likewise did in the 1970s. in 2002, the species was rediscovered in gao ping, chongqing county in vietnam. in 2006, their traces were found in the karst forests of jingxi, guangxi province in china. measures were immediately taken to protect the eastern black crested gibbon, and suitable habitats were created for them. after more than a decade of efforts, their population has started to recover. using the population of the eastern black crested gibbon in china as an example, when they were first discovered, there were only 19 individuals in 3 groups. now, there are 36 individuals in 5 groups. although it is indeed astonishing that a species declared extinct such as the eastern black crested gibbon has reappeared, the population is still not large. with only around 140 individuals in the world, there are fewer eastern black crested gibbons than giant pandas, mainly distributed in the bangliang crested gibbon national nature reserve in guangxi, china, and neighboring chongqing crested gibbon nature reserve in vietnam.
another case of a long-lost species reappearing is the "black-browed babbler," which was considered extinct for more than 170 years. the local people of borneo, indonesia, discovered an unusual bird in the forest and took pictures of it. after researching it carefully, scientists confirmed it was the "black-browed babbler." although this bird species was first discovered in the 1940s, they disappeared soon after, turning them into a mystery known as "the biggest puzzle in indonesian ornithology." after more than 170 years, humans discovered them again. scientists believe that the species had always existed but in very small numbers, and we simply did not find them before. after more than a century, they resurfaced before our eyes.
nevertheless, scientists warn that although there are cases of species reappearing after being declared extinct, the overall situation for earth's species is not optimistic. the rate of extinction for many species has been accelerating in recent years. in a study that examined species extinctions over the past 500 years, scientists found that nearly 400 species went extinct in the past century alone. historic extinction rates were much slower, with only 20-60 extinctions per century before the industrial revolution. according to the international union for conservation of nature (iucn), around 26,500 species are currently at the brink of extinction, including amphibians, mammals, and birds. given the accelerated pace of extinction, some scientists worry that the sixth mass extinction may already be underway, with human activities being the main culprits. however, this is only a conclusion drawn by some scientists based on data, and it does not mean that a mass extinction event has already started. the limitations of technology and research methods in the past make it difficult to compare extinction rates accurately. while we cannot determine whether a mass extinction has begun, it is clear that many species are on the verge of extinction. species that were once common in our childhood h**e now become scarce. therefore, it is crucial to strengthen environmental protection and the conservation of wildlife.
what are your thoughts on the reappearance of species declared extinct? can we take it as a sign that some species are resilient and can bounce back from the edge of extinction? or is it just a coincidence? how can we prevent future extinctions and protect the diversity of life on earth?
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