Largest great ape that ever lived ‘became extinct because of climate change’

The giant apes, which probably resembled modern orangutans, survived for about two million years on the forested plains of China’s Guangxi region.

Gigantopithecus blacki lived in the Guangxi region of southern China (Garcia/Joannes-Boyau/Southern Cross University/AP)

An ancient species of great ape was likely to have been driven to extinction when climate change put their favourite fruits out of reach during dry seasons, scientists said on Wednesday.

The species Gigantopithecus blacki, which once lived in southern China, represents the largest great ape known to scientists, standing 10ft tall and weighing up to 650lbs, or 46 stone.