New home for Giant Salamanders at new Hiroshima aquarium

Two Japanese giant salamanders have found a new home at a state-of-the-art aquarium set to open in central Hiroshima at the end of the month.

Known in Japan as Osanoshou, the Japanese giant salamander is an aquatic amphibian that thrives in the clear streams of the Chugoku Mountains. Scientists consider it a living fossil because its form has remained largely unchanged for millions of years. The Ministry of the Environment lists the species as “Near Threatened” to “Vulnerable.”

Asa Zoo, located in the hills of Hiroshima, leads efforts to protect these remarkable creatures, which can grow up to 1.5 meters long. The zoo has loaned the two salamanders to the new aquarium free of charge as part of its mission to help educate the public and raise awareness about their conservation.

The new Motomachi Aquarium (the Aqua Alive Museum in English!) will open on October 31 on the 7th floor of the Pacela Shopping Center in Motomachi, near Hiroshima Castle and the Peace Memorial Park. According to RCC News, the salamanders have already adapted well to their new environment, and staff expect them to become one of the aquarium’s most popular attractions.

Read more about the conservation work of Asa Zoo here.

Source: RCC News