141: Is it too late to save the Japanese giant salamander?

<div>With the United Nations Biodiversity Conference taking place in Montreal this week, we thought it would be a good opportunity to look at how Japan is handling issues involving biodiversity here. Environmental journalist <strong>Mara Budgen</strong> comes on the show to talk about the Japanese giant salamander, which has been designated a "special natural monument" under Japanese law but is <em>still</em> vulnerable to extinction. <br> If you have pitches for our new section Our Planet, feel free to email us at environment@japantimes.co.jp. <br> <br> Hosted by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Shaun McKenna</a> and produced by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/david-cortez/">Dave Cortez</a>. <br> <br> <strong>On this episode:</strong> <br> Mara Budgen: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/int-mara-budgen/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/marabudgen?lang=en">Twitter</a><br> <br> <strong>Read more/Watch more:</strong> </div> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/10/24/environment/japan-seawalls-coastal-erosion/">Battle to stop Kagoshima seawall highlights divide over coastal engineering</a> (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://youtu.be/Wx_MsAG0Tu4">Save the Japanese giant salamander campaign</a> (The Japan Channel, YouTube)</li> <li><a href="https://www.sustainabledaisen.org/en/home">Sustainable Daisen</a></li> </ul> <div> <br> <strong>Get in touch:</strong> <br> Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, head to <a href="http://japantimes.co.jp/">japantimes.co.jp</a>. And don’t forget to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/japandeepdive?lang=en">Twitter</a>! <br> <br> <strong>Photo:</strong> <br> <em>The Japanese giant salamander’s biology has changed little over the past 23 million years, so when you see one it’s like looking at a dinosaur. | TOPOUTIMAGES/ YUKIHIRO FUKUDA</em>