Winding between Zhangjiajie's peaks, crystal clear mountain streams are home to what is perhaps China's strangest creature. This bizarre animal is a type of newt, the Chinese Giant Salamander. In China, it is known as the baby fish, because when distressed, it makes a sound like a crying infant. It grows up to a metre and a half long, making it the world's largest amphibian. Under natural conditions, a Giant Salamander may live for decades. But like so many Chinese animals, it is considered delicious to eat. Despite being classed as protected species, giant salamanders are still illegally sold for food. And the baby fish is now rare and endangered in the wild. Fortunately in a few areas like Zhangjiajie, Giant Salamanders still survive under strict official protection.


蜿蜒在张家界的山峰间清澈见底的溪流中，居住着一种中国最奇怪的生物。这种奇异的动物属于蝾螈的一种——中国大鲵。在中国，它被称之为娃娃鱼，这个称呼源自当它悲伤时发出的类似婴儿哭泣的声音。大鲵成年体长1~1.5米，这使它成为世界上最大的两栖类动物。在自然条件下，一只大鲵可以活到十岁。但是和很多其他中国动物一样，它被视为美味佳肴。尽管被列为国家级保护动物，大鲵仍然被当作食物非法买卖。现在娃娃鱼已经非常稀有，在自然界濒临灭绝了。幸运的是在像张家界这样的一些地方，大鲵在政府的严格保护下得以幸存。