A villager turned down the offer of a wildlife smuggler who wanted to buy a wild Chinese giant salamander found in a stream, instead choosing to release the valuable animal back into its natural habitat.
The 3.7-kilogram (8 pounds) wild Chinese giant salamander was found recently in a stream in Tiansheng Village in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
The animal was examined as a healthy wild Chinese giant salamander, 70 centimeters long (2.2 feet) and weighing 3.6 kilograms.
The villager was awarded 500 yuan ($81) by the local animal protection bureau for his efforts.