Exploring the Mysterious Giant Salamander Kingdom: The Breeding Miracle, Commercial Utilization, and Ecological Giveback of the World's Largest Amphibian

Abstract

China’s large-scale ecological propagation model has created a sustainable solution for the critically endangered Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus). Kaiqi Wu investigates how modern commercial facilities, such as the Longjingquan Breeding Base maintaining over 90,000 individuals, satisfy market demand while protecting fragile wild populations. The industry relies on strict husbandry standards, utilizing drinking-quality micro-flowing water, stable thermal management, active ventilation, and a transition towards natural photoperiods. Furthermore, state-sponsored stock enhancement programmes repurchase robust, captive-bred one-year-olds to reseed protected mountain streams. This unique synergy between commercial enterprise, welfare-driven husbandry, and government-backed rewilding offers a powerful blueprint for amphibian preservation.