A recent study revealed that Gigantopithecus blacki, an ancient great ape species that once inhabited southern China, likely became extinct hundreds of thousands of years ago due to climate change altering their environment. Standing at an impressive 3 meters tall and weighing up to 295 kilograms, it holds the title of the largest great ape known to scientists. The massive size of Gigantopithecus blacki, while impressive, may have been a disadvantage as the changing climate led to a reduction in fruit production in Guangxi's forests about 600,000 years ago. Unable to climb trees to explore new food sources when scarcity struck, the giant apes faced challenges in adapting to the changing landscape. While the species survived for approximately 2 million years in the forested regions of Guangxi, the diminishing availability of preferred fruits, coupled with more frequent dry seasons, eventually led to their extinction. Researchers, examining pollen and sediment in caves, estimate the extinction occurred between 215,000 and 295,000 years ago. As the climate shifted, smaller apes could adapt by climbing trees to find alternative food, but the giant apes resorted to consuming less nutritious options such as tree bark and reeds. Zhang Yingqi from China’s Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology emphasized that the altered forest landscape could no longer provide sufficient preferred food for the species. The study primarily relies on the analysis of fossilized remains, including teeth and large lower jaw bones, found in southern China. Unlike some other great ape species, complete skeletons of Gigantopithecus blacki have not been discovered. This discovery highlights the impact of environmental changes on the evolution and survival of species, providing insights into the complex interactions between climate, habitat, and dietary preferences.