The force is strong in the Gaoligong Mountains of southwest China, with a new Skywalker in their midst. An entirely new species of Hoolock gibbon has been discovered there and it has been named after the protagonist of the original Star Wars trilogy. Gibbons are considered mystical beings in ancient Chinese culture and this, combined with their use of high treetop homes, led scientists from Sun Yat-sen University and Zoological Society of London to choose the skyward-looking name.
There are two other Hoolock species in China: the H leuconedys, living on the eastern side of the Chindwin River, and H Hoolock on the western edge.
