Slithering to survival 

 

The Chinese Giant Salamander is critically endangered mainly due to human activities. They are threatened today by overharvesting for human consumption. A large portion of their population originated in China where salamander farming is actually encouraged and is an important economic activity in some areas. It has been discovered that around two million are being held on farms. The Chinese Giant Salamander has the amazing ability to produce a sticky, white, mucus when they become aggravated or stressed. This secretion is toxic and repels predators, all predators except for humans, which contributes towards why the salamander struggles to keep poachers from hunting it (San Diego Zoo, 2019). They have no way to protect themselves from our destructive species. Their meat is very valuable, luxurious, and is considered a delicacy. Their body parts are also used in a variety of medicines. This species was never meant for this, however, the cruel minds that control the communities in China today have flipped the world of the Chinese giant salamander upside down (EDGE, 2013).