Endangered Chinese Giant Salamander - NOW ON EXHIBIT
Friday, October, 25, 2013, Toronto Ontario: It is the largest amphibian in the world, and it is now on display in the Panda Interpretive Centre at the Toronto Zoo. It was captive bred in Germany in 1996 and brought to Canada by salamander conservationist, Craig Cameron. There are only six in North America and this is the only one in Canada. Toronto Zoo previously had a male giant salamander that was sent to Cincinnati Zoo in the 1980s, as part of a captive breeding program. Our one-metre long giant salamander is 17 years old and captive salamanders can live more than 50 years. This is one of the few species that was living at the time of the dinosaurs that are still with us. The giant salamander eats anything it can fit into its large mouth - fish, small mammals, frogs, and crayfish. Prey is sensed by smell and head to tail sensory cells that are stimulated by vibrations in the water. Food is literally sucked into the mouth when it is rapidly opened.
It is endemicto central, south-western and southern China, although its range is now very fragmented. They live in rocky, mountain streams and lakes with clear, running water. It is consideredcritically endangered with commercial over-exploitation for human consumption being the main threat to this species (it is considered a delicacy and used in folk medicine). It has declined in numbers due to river pollution and the construction of dams. Giant salamanders are considered an indicator species since they are very sensitive to pollution and poor water quality in freshwater ecosystems.
Poaching is now considered one of the biggest threats to remaining giant salamander populations and some experts predict that in the next few decades giant salamanders could go extinct in the wild. In fact, the Chinese giant salamander has been listed in China as a Class II State Major Protected wildlife species and is a flagship species for conservation. Recently, China has established river reserves and parks for the species and giant salamanders are now farmed in great numbers. From these reserves, each farm releases a portion of all salamanders bred into the wild. Toronto Zoo is developing a partnership with the Chinese Association of Zoological Gardens and Chinese researchers to support giant salamander conservation and education programs in the wild.
The Toronto Zoo is Canada's premier zoo and a leader in animal preservation and environmental protection. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats - from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year.
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For more information contact: Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events kgray@torontozoo.ca
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