Chinese city hosts food festival for endangered amphibian

he endangered giant salamander will be on the plates of hundreds as a festival surrounding consumption of the rare lizard kicks off in Zhangjiajie on Thursday.

Foodies and tourists from across the country braved rain to the event in Hunan Province in order to get a bite of the "healthy delicacies that have lived (on earth) for 350 million years" as touted by the organizers.

"Drink giant salamander tea and live long!" one peddler was shouting as he hawked tea and noodles made from pulverized giant salamanders, which can live for 200 years. Other sellers boasted snacks capable of increasing pregnancy rates.

The festival will host a chef competition during which they will demonstrate the most scrumptious ways of cooking the amphibian.

Giant salamanders, the world's largest existing amphibian, is placed under state protection in China, but the country's wildlife protection law allows consumption of the second generations of those born and raised in captivity.

The many alleged health benefits surrounding the round-headed carnivore has made their meat precious. In Guangdong Province, a giant salamander dish can cost more than 5,000 yuan (780 U.S. dollars).

Zhangjiajie, known for its scenic mountains and being "China's home to giant salamanders," has 108 companies licensed for rearing such animals and 85 others engaged in related food processing or dining.

Local officials said all salamander meat used is from legal farms.

"Giant salamander farming, which requires clean water, actually drives locals to protect the environment," said Liu Qun, a senior city official. "The industry also helps lift locals out of poverty." Endi