Demand for exotic food has pushed the world’s largest amphibian, the Chinese giant salamander, to the brink of extinction in the wild, a study has shown. The ancient creatures, which date back 170 million years, have all but disappeared from their traditional freshwater habitats, researchers say. Giant salamanders have been depicted in Chinese culture for thousands of years, but in recent times have become a highly coveted delicacy. Evidence of the creatures’ plight has come from field surveys at 97 sites in 23 Chinese provinces over a period of four years. China officially prohibits the harvesting of wild giant salamanders, but supports widespread releases of farmed animals as a conservation measure.

Source: The Irish Times May 22, 2018 08:26 UTC