Chinese giant salamander, Andrias davidianus

It is known as a delicacy and believed to have medicinal properties. The economic boom in China has caused demand for its (expensive) meat to shoot up rapidly. Despite being legally protected, it still continues to be consumed by the country’s elite. Altough a number of breeding farm projects have been set up to help produce giant salamanders for the market, they continue to be caught for the black market and sold at high prices