JAPAN TODAY (Tokyo) 10 August 10 Oldest giant salamander in Japan dies

Kushiro: A 126-centimeter giant salamander, which had been on display for 45 years as a national natural treasure at Obihiro Zoo in Hokkaido, died Sunday, the zoo said Tuesday.

The amphibian was the longest-kept and oldest giant salamander in Japan with an estimated age of over 55, according to records at the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It weighed 19 kilograms. It (the giant salamander) had just appeared on the cover of the summer edition of our newsletter. Im disappointed, said zoo director Ken Fujikawa. It wasnt that spectacular in appearance but amazed us for living so long.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/oldest-giant-salamander-in-japan-dies



IBN (New Delhi, India) 14 August 10 Japan''s biggest 100 years old giant salamander dies

Okayama (Japan)(PTI): Japan's largest-known giant salamander died at a hot spring resort here where it was presumed to be over 100 years old, local officials has announced.The enormous amphibian, which had been on public display since 1971 at a giant salamander center of Yubara in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture, probably died of old age, the officials said yesterday.

The salamander had not been properly measured or weighed in the presence of experts but estimates of its length range from a conservative 1.5 metres to as long as 1.7 metres.It was said to weigh as much as 60 kilogrammes, but experts doubt that.Only several weeks ago, the salamander was given the name "Ryuu" in a ceremony attended by local elementary students, while at last weekend's "hanzaki" (giant salamander) festival, an annual event in Maniwa city, its immense size drew gasps from awed visitors.

"We're very sorry to lose (Ryuu), who for a long time had been warmly liked by local residents and visiting tourists," a local official said.Takeyoshi Tochimoto, who has studied giant salamanders for decades, said the timing of the death is unfortunate as there were plans to have it accurately measured during an annual meeting of giant salamander experts to be held September 11-12 in Yubara.

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/japans-biggest-100-years-old-giant-salamander-dies/232561.html

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