Japanese Giant Salamander in Singapore Oceanarium

[captain alligator]

https://www.singaporeoceanarium.com...als-a-z/unpublished-profiles/giant-salamander

It kept that the Singapore Oceanarium has Japanese Giant Salamander (probably the only in Southeast Asia) in the Singapore Oceanarium, but how did they come to this Oceanarium? (I think they probably came from Japan) Personally, I think Chinese Giant Salamander, which are not natural monuments, are easier to obtain, but why do they kept Japanese Giant Salamander that are difficult to obtain?

 

[ralph]

It seems like the Oceanarium imported a bunch of fish and invertebrate species for Japan as well. So why not some giant salamanders while there at it?

 

[captain alligator]

It seems like the Oceanarium imported a bunch of fish and invertebrate species for Japan as well. So why not some giant salamanders while there at it?

Chinese giant salamander, which are not a natural monument, have been kept at River Wonders for quite some time, but I found it hard to believe that Japanese giant salamander, which are a natural monument, were being kept in Singapore. (To be honest, I had known for a while that Japanese giant salamander were kept in zoos in the United States.)

 

[Veno]

I think Chinese Giant Salamander, which are not natural monuments, are easier to obtain

I wonder what this means about obtaining them. Actually, in Japan, Japanese giant salamander is designated as a Natural Monument. It goes without saying that Chinese giant salamander, which is native to China, would not be a Japanese Natural Monument. Instead, it is listed as a National Class II Protected Wild Animal in China, meaning strict regulations apply to its export and keeping. In other words, just like in Japan, the species is nationally protected. At River Wonders, they likely needed the species for a Yangtze River–themed area, so it was probably imported with permission from China.

 

[SwampDonkey]

At River Wonders, they likely needed the species for a Yangtze River–themed area, so it was probably imported with permission from China.

There is also the possibility that it was a captured Chinese giant salamander that was in Japan. There is an active program to remove them since they are obviously invasive.

 

[captain alligator]

I wonder what this means about obtaining them. Actually, in Japan, Japanese giant salamander is designated as a Natural Monument. It goes without saying that Chinese giant salamander, which is native to China, would not be a Japanese Natural Monument. Instead, it is listed as a National Class II Protected Wild Animal in China, meaning strict regulations apply to its export and keeping. In other words, just like in Japan, the species is nationally protected. At River Wonders, they likely needed the species for a Yangtze River–themed area, so it was probably imported with permission from China.

Chinese giant salamander are also kept in zoos and aquariums in Other countries in Southeast Asia and Europe, so I thought there would be no problem, unlike Japanese giant salamander (although they are critically endangered).

 

[Jana]

Chinese giant salamander is legaly captive bred in thousands for human consuption in China. So while their export needs a permission, their availability is far better then Japanese ones.

 

[captain alligator]

Chinese giant salamander is legaly captive bred in thousands for human consuption in China. So while their export needs a permission, their availability is far better then Japanese ones.

I see, this is a bit off topic, but is this the reason why Chinese giant salamander (There are only a few individual in Europe) are still kept in zoos in Europe, unlike Japanese giant salamander?

 

[Jana]

I see, this is a bit off topic, but is this the reason why Chinese giant salamander (There are only a few individual in Europe) are still kept in zoos in Europe, unlike Japanese giant salamander?

Yes, import from Chinese salamander farms is possible - or at least was possible few years ago. Prague imported a group of 35 animals in 2013 this way. (And Plzen even found a giant salamander at their doors one morning this year - probably an abandoned ex-pet)

 

[captain alligator]

Yes, import from Chinese salamander farms is possible - or at least was possible few years ago. Prague imported a group of 35 animals in 2013 this way. (And Plzen even found a giant salamander at their doors one morning this year - probably an abandoned ex-pet)

However, Japanese giant salamander are still kept at US zoos (although Chinese giant salamander are also kept in the US) but is this because they are breeding well? (Incidentally, last Japanese giant salamander in Europe was an individual kept in Vivarium Lausanne in Switzerland, which was closed in 2015.)

 

[Veno]

As you probably know, Chinese giant salamander is the largest amphibian in the world and is critically endangered, making it very valuable for education and raising public awareness. In contrast, Japanese giant salamander is the second-largest species and is not currently as critically endangered as Chinese giant salamander (although ongoing genetic contamination could eventually move it into EN or CR category).

For this reason, it’s not surprising that European zoos show little interest in acquiring Japanese giant salamanders.

 

[Casuarius_casuarius]

The majority of Chinese giant salamanders in captivity, both within and outside China, are hybrids, as their status as a species complex was only recently discovered. Hence, their conservation status has declined significantly as a result. You can even find juveniles for sale as pets in Thailand and parts of the Philippines.