Chinese Giant Salamander vs. Human Predation threats
One of the prizes of the amphibian descent is the Chinese Giant Salamander. The Chinese Giant Salamander is the biggest amphibian on the face of the earth (San Diego Zoo Animals And Plants, 2019)
. Alike to us, this fascinating species can grow up to six feet and weigh 110 pounds. They are the gentle giants of the freshwater ecosystems running throughout China. Their size and lack of ways to protect themselves make them easy targets to the world's most threatening predators: humans. Humans are these salamander’s main predator, and their biggest threat, as we are responsible for farming and slaughtering this species for their meat (The Bon Vivant In Yellow, 2015). The Chinese Giant Salamander is very important to the stability of the freshwater ecosystems of China, and their conservation and habilitation of the species are more important than the satisfaction of the bellies of our species. Due to the species population control that has been maintained by the diet of the Chinese Giant Salamander, the biodiversity of the freshwater ecosystems in china has been able to remain stable, until now. (San Diego Zoo Animals And Plants, 2019)
(Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Jan. 10, 2020)
Chinese Giant Salamander Model in zoo.
(Namiac, 2012)
Chinese Giant Salamander Photographed between Rocks
The Giant Chinese salamander population has been declining due to the reduction and fragmentation of habitat caused by the diversion of water for agricultural purposes, roads, and the development of dams that have also lead to fragmentation. China is rapidly developing as new technology and the demand for more space becomes essential. The pace at which these developments are happening is far too fast for the environment and its wild inhabitants to keep up with. They can't adapt to these harsh changes and are then taken advantage of because of that. It also doesn't help that China's population has skyrocketed, so the need for more food is a reason the Giant Chinese Salamander is being poached more and more these days.
What has this salamander done to humans?! Nothing…
Like most innocent species these days, the reason behind the looming extinction of the Giant Chinese Salamander is because of the stupidity of man-kind. What have the salamanders exhibited to receive all of this hatred? Absolutely nothing. They are just trying to live out their lives, just like we are trying to as well. The difference is, that somehow overtime a portion of our population started to think that we needed to incorporate more into our palate, to show a higher level of sophistication. HIPPCO is an acronym for the six greatest human activities that are causing species extinction. Habitat fragmentation is the greatest threat to a species and occurs when a large, intact, area of habitats such as a forest or grassland is divided and made smaller, transforming these spaces into isolated patches. This can happen due to the production of railroads, and other new developments.
(Wiki, 2019)
Pollution on beach in china.