Based on a recent report from the People's Daily, an exotic creature was found in a Chinese cave. It is estimated to be about 200 years old. The creature is a giant salamander which is 4.5 feet long. It weighs at around 114 pounds.
This salamander may not even be that big for the Andrias davidianus species, the largest amphibian alive as reported in Time. It is known that their species can grow until six feet in length, however, it is already rare to see one that long nowadays. These have been around since the Jurassic period. Their physical properties are still admirably unchanged.
If held captive, these wild giant salamanders only live half a century. It may be difficult to determine the lifespan if the creature lives in the wild, more importantly, if this one found a remote area and out of access from humans.
One may think that it may be out of line to take this old salamander out of its natural habitat and then put into confinement. However, this may be its only chance for survival as reported in The Washington Post.
The species is reportedly critically endangered. Its population decline reached an alarming 80 percent in 50 years' time. Aside from having their habitats destroyed, they have had to avoid a lot of poaching attempts.
These increased poaching attempts may be due to the fact that the creatures are a delicacy, and treated to have medicinal properties. Up to now, there is no scientific evidence to prove the latter, but people still continue to believe its medical worth so the salamander hunt continues.
It was also reported in BBC last March that poachers have opted to measures like explosives and insecticides because of the decline in the number of the salamander's populace.
The entire population of the creatures could face extinction, but it's just better to know that at least this old one is safe.
