The Chinese giant salamander Andrias davidianus is the largest extant amphibian, is categorized as Critically Endangered as a result of overexploitation and habitat loss (Tapley et al., 2021, Oryx, 55, 373–381) and requires conservation attention. Andrias davidianus is actually a species complex, and has recently been divided into several species: A. sligoi (Turvey et al., 2019, Ecology and Evolution, 9, 10070–10084.), A. jiangxiensis (Chai et al., 2022, Zoological Research, 43, 469–480) and A. cheni (Gong et al., 2023, Chinese Journal of Zoology, 58, 651–657). It is likely there will be further taxonomic splits. Although the current conservation needs of these species are partially understood (Chen et al., 2018, Ecology and Evolution, 8, 3098–3108), the conservation actions needed to prevent the extinction of the named and as yet unnamed species need to be clarified.
With this purpose in mind, the NGO Green Camel Bell, the Zoological Society of London and the Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, held a workshop on the conservation of Chinese giant salamanders, in Lanzhou, China, in October 2023. The attendees, representing a diverse array of stakeholders, agreed on a series of key actions: research to resolve the taxonomic conundrums, field surveys to identify and protect remaining pure populations, investigations to identify how Chinese giant salamander farming could benefit conservation, refinement of the process for releasing individuals from farms, work to encourage legislative changes, research to improve our understanding of the species’ behaviour and ecology, and adoption of better practices to protect against pathogen introduction and transmission.
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