News from the zoo/Invitation to the photo session - Rare giant salamander goes to Dresden for breeding programme
Chemnitz Zoo has been keeping two specimens of the Chinese giant salamander, the largest living amphibian species in the world, for many years.
Some time ago, scientists from the Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin discovered during an examination that these are two males. Dresden Zoo, on the other hand, has one female, and so the two zoos have decided to form a breeding community to help preserve this endangered species, which is only kept in a few European zoos (it has been extremely rare for Chinese giant salamanders to be bred). To this end, one of the two males from Chemnitz will be transferred to Dresden.
This will take place on Wednesday 24 July at 9 am. The transfer of the animal from the tank to the transport container will take place quickly. The media will have the opportunity to film and photograph this action from the visitors' room.
Please note: This can only be done in real time; it is not possible to re-enact scenes with the animal.
Information on the Art:
The animals are found in cool, clear and oxygen-rich flowing waters in central China. Their diet includes almost all aquatic animals that are small enough to be sucked in by suddenly opening their mouths (insects, fish, crustaceans, etc.).
Giant salamanders are nocturnal solitary animals.
During the mating season in late summer, the male creates a breeding den in which the female lays up to 500 eggs after a joint "wedding dance". The clutch is guarded by the male until the larvae hatch from the eggs after around 50 days.
The larvae initially have gill tufts (see axolotl), but these recede after a few months. Adult giant salamanders practise cutaneous respiration, i.e. they absorb most of the oxygen they need through their skin. The lungs mainly serve as a swim bladder.
The species is threatened with extinction due to progressive loss of habitat and direct hunting, as the meat is considered a delicacy.
The establishment of national parks and industrial breeding are attempts to secure the wild population and meet the increasing commercial demand.
Chemnitz Zoo is one of the very few institutions in the world that keeps this species.