"Gigantopithecus" appears to have gone extinct about 300,000 years ago, possibly due to the southward retreat of forest and prime habitat throughout the Middle Pleistocene caused by increasing seasonality and monsoon strength, and a cooling trend. Savanna would remain the dominant habitat of Southeast Asia until the Late Pleistocene. It has been speculated that immigrating "H. erectus" also contributed to its extinction. Human activity in southern China is known as early as 800,000 years ago, but does not become prevalent until after the extinction of "Gigantopithecus", so it is unclear if pressures such as competition over resources or overhunting were factors. "H. erectus" also would have been better suited for savanna habitats.