An investigation into the plight of the Japanese giant salamander, classified as “vulnerable” to extinction by the IUCN, and the roots of its decline.
Why are these “living dinosaurs”, whose biology has changed little over millions of years, threatened?
Who is protecting them? What systems are in place to stop them from going extinct?
Should biodiversity loss be avoided at all costs? Are local communities necessarily responsible for conservation?
Stories produced with the support of Internews’ Earth Journalism Network Asia Pacific Environmental Story Grant.
The plight of the Japanese giant salamander: ‘23m years of DNA might die out’
The Guardian, 12/01/23
“No one knows how many of these elusive and mysterious creatures are left but time is thought to be running out as artificial barriers fragment their habitat.“
The race to save the Japanese giant salamander
The Japan Times, 14/01/23
“Conservationists are calling for an alternative vision of rural development in order to protect the species from extinction.”
Saving the Japanese giant salamander from concrete
LifeGate, 06/03/23
“‘Could they die out? Definitely,’ says Richard Pearce. ‘But I believe there’s hope because we’ve made giant steps in a relatively short time.'”
Featured image © Yukihiro Fukuda/TopOutImages
