Using local ecological knowledge to assess the status of the Critically Endangered Chinese giant salamanderAndrias davidianusin Guizhou Province, China

Local ecological knowledge reveals severe declines in the Critically Endangered Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) across three Guizhou Province reserves, including potential functional extinction at Mayanghe. Despite being a priority species for conservation, few recent sightings were recorded in Fanjingshan and Leigongshan, with respondents citing overharvesting—likely driven by the booming salamander farming industry—as the primary threat. The study demonstrates that questionnaire-based surveys can provide novel quantitative data to assess population status where traditional field techniques fail, advocating for broader adoption of this approach in future conservation efforts.

Pan, Y., Wei, G., Cunningham, A. A., Li, S., Chen, S., Milner-Gulland, E. J., & Turvey, S. T. (2015). Using local ecological knowledge to assess the status of the Critically Endangered Chinese giant salamanderAndrias davidianusin Guizhou Province, China. Oryx, 50(2), 257–264. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605314000830