In the cartoon "Doraemon", the protagonist Nobita often finds himself chased by dogs while walking down the street, a scenario that many can relate to. Recently, a student in Kyoto had an unusual experience on his way to school. As he passed by the Kamo River, instead of being chased by a dog, he encountered an enormous, slippery creature strolling along the path.
This creature, with dark, shiny skin and a long tail dragging behind it, startled the student so much that he pulled out his phone to record the moment and rushed to report it to the police. The footage quickly went viral on Twitter and Reddit, sparking discussions among thousands of users who dubbed the creature a "monster".
However, this "monster" was actually a Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus), commonly known as "ōsanshōuo". It was spotted taking a walk near the Shijo Bridge over the Kamo River. The student, pressed for time to get to school, felt helpless but decided to alert authorities instead.
When police arrived, they were unable to approach or capture the giant salamander freely. They could only watch as it slowly made its way back into the river. According to reports from Asahi Shimbun, the Japanese giant salamander is classified as a first-class protected species.
Related to the giant salamander is the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), commonly referred to in Taiwan as "wa wa yu". Unfortunately, native populations of the Japanese giant salamander are dwindling due to hybridization with invasive species. Over 90% of giant salamanders found in the Kamo River are hybrids. Although hybridization significantly impacts Japan's ecology, these hybrids are still considered rare and valuable species.
According to National Geographic, the Chinese giant salamander is the largest amphibian in the world, reaching lengths of up to 1.8 meters (approximately 5.9 feet) and weighing around 60 kilograms (132 pounds). Despite their massive size, these creatures are threatened by human activities aimed at capturing them for culinary purposes. Currently, the Chinese giant salamander is listed as critically endangered and is designated as a second-class protected wildlife species in China.
If you were to encounter a giant salamander on your travels, how would you react?
