Chinese Giant Salamander May be at Risk from Diseased Farms

The Chinese giant salamander may be at risk of extinction. Although farms are kept in order to support their conservation, scientists have found that these farms illegally poach wild salamanders to supplement farmed populations. Not only that, but the farmed populations often do not breed successfully.

The Chinese giant salamander is the world's largest amphibian. These creatures are eaten as a delicacy, and their numbers have declined catastrophically over the past 30 years, largely due to overexploitation for food and habitat destruction. In response, several salamander farms have popped up to supply salamanders for the restaurant trade. However, these farms may be part of the problem.

The researchers surveyed 43 farms in China. Although only a decade one, this farming industry houses millions of animals and is a major contributor to the rural economy. However, there are also some huge problems with this industry.

Farmed salamanders are traded across China and are kept in crowded conditions. This supports disease outbreaks. In addition, untreated wastewater from farms is discharged into local river systems, potentially spreading diseases. The giant salamander trade also mixes locally-adapted genetic strains, which makes farmed animals unsuitable for reintroduction into the wild.

"The findings from our study identify measures that need to be taken to ensure the sustainability of Chinese giant salamander farming while also reducing threats to the remaining animals in the wild," said Andrew Cunningham, lead author of the new study, in a news release. "With better farming practices, the Chinese giant salamander farming industry has the potential to benefit, rather than threaten, their conservation."

The findings reveal that while there are problems with the farming industry, there are also solutions. If these solutions are implemented, the salamander farming industry could be a huge boon in the future.

The findings are published in the journal Oryx.

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