An event to observe giant salamanders, a national special natural monument, was held on October 26, 2025, at the Okuyama River in Amabiki, Sonobe-cho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture. Parents and children who attended observed two captured salamanders, admiring their leisurely movements and commenting how cute they were.
Native giant salamanders were spotted in the Amabiki area in 2014, and they make their home in rocky areas along the river. The observation event was organized by the Kameoka People and Nature Network, an NPO that continues to conduct surveys in the Amabiki area at the request of Kyoto Prefecture.
An expert wearing a wetsuit entered the river to capture the giant salamanders, which were approximately 70 centimeters long and weighed 2.5 kg and 3 kg, respectively.
A 7-year-old elementary school boy, who was handling one for the first time, was delighted, saying, "It's bigger than I expected. It's slimy."
A 36-year-old man who is a director of the nonprofit organization Kameoka People and Nature Network explained, "They can also be found in Kyoto City, but most of them are introduced species or hybrids. We believe there are many native species in Amabiki, so they are extremely rare."
