The mystery surrounding the extinction of Gigantopithecus blacki, an ancient giant ape that stood three meters tall and weighed up to 250 kilograms, has been solved through extensive research by a team of Chinese, Australian, and US scientists. These giant apes once roamed the karst plains of southern China and were among the largest primates ever to exist.
The team used a combination of six different dating techniques on evidence from 22 caves in southern China to establish a more comprehensive timeline of the ape’s existence and extinction. This extensive study resulted in 157 different ages for the fossil samples, combined with environmental analysis, including pollen, cave sediments, and isotopes in teeth.
Analysis of these findings suggests that Gigantopithecus blacki flourished in a diverse forest environment 2.3 million years ago. However, it went extinct much earlier than previously thought, between 295,000 and 215,000 years ago. This extinction coincided with a period when the environment became more variable due to the increasing strength of the seasons, causing a change in the structure of the forest communities.
Unlike orangutans, a close relative of G. blacki, which adapted to changing environments by altering their size, food sources, and migrating to different habitats, Gigantopithecus blacki relied on a less nutritious backup food source. This reliance made them less mobile and reduced their geographic range for foraging, leading to chronic stress and dwindling numbers. The inability of G. blacki to adapt to the changing environment was a key factor in their extinction.
This research is crucial for understanding the reasons behind the extinction of species and can provide insights into primate resilience and the fate of other large animals, both in the past and potentially in the future.