KYOTO ¨C In Japanese rivers, if you¡¯re very lucky, you might find unusual amphibians that grow up to 5 feet long and look like strange cartoon dinosaurs. They are giant salamanders.
¡°Salamanders are big, and they¡¯re cool,¡± said Sena Ishikawa, a master¡¯s student studying the animals at Kyoto University. ¡°I just love them.¡±
Such passion for the slippery species, which Japan has designated a ¡°special national treasure,¡± prompted Ishikawa and two other students to set out on an unseasonably cold evening in March along the Kamo River in Kyoto, wearing headlamps, waterproof overalls, knee-high rubber boots and neon yellow safety vests, and carrying what looked like oversize butterfly nets.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.