Wildlife Along The Yangtze River

 
The world’s third longest river is home to some amazing wildlife; from pandas to giant
salamanders, this waterway boasts an incredible ecosystem you have to see to believe.

Cutting across 3,988 miles of China, it is the world’s longest river that starts and finishes
in the same country. It really is the most significant river in China, offering a fascinating
history along with its vital practical assets.
The Yangtze River has been a crucial part of China’s development for thousands of
years, providing a means of transport, an economic boost and an aid in the progress of
sustainable farming.
Chinese giant salamander
These giant amphibians are the biggest on earth and are some of the most
extraordinary animals you will come across on a Yangtze River cruise.

With some reaching 1.8 metres in length, the Chinese giant salamanders are one of the
oddest looking animals along the river. They can be found in dark places, like dim rocky
mountain streams along the river.
Sadly, they have been hunted to such an extent that they are extremely rare, after being
used for the traditional medicine purposes.

Chinese Alligator
The only known species of alligator that is native to China, the Chinese alligator can be
found exclusively in the Yangtze River.
Though much smaller than their North American cousins, these alligators usually reach
around 1.5 metres in length and can weigh up to 45 kilograms.
Martin and his crew did also come across the river alligators, but that didn’t put them off.
“On a few occasions when entering the river we also spotted smaller river
alligators on river banks. Supposedly they do not swim in the mainstream
channel and keep themselves on the river shore, ponds, channels and calmer
water edges.”
Along with the giant salamander, these alligators are protected in order to save the
remaining 200 individuals that live in the wild.

The pangolin
Pangolins have been around for over 80 million years. The little anteater-like creature
has eight different species, all deriving from the same family, Manidae.
Four of the species are Asian, while the other four are African. In Asia, you can find the
Chinese, Malayan, Indian and Palawan pangolin.
Though they resemble an anteater, they are actually more closely related to carnivores
like wolves, bears and hyenas.
When fully extended, the tongue of a pangolin can stretch to 40 cm long, making it
longer than its body in some instances. They are also the only mammal on earth to be
covered in scales; these scales are made up of the same material as our fingernails,
rhino horns and bird talons.
To defend themselves, the pangolin rolls up into a ball, shielding itself with its tough
scales. This defence leaves its main wild predators, like leopards, confused about what
to do with it.

Chinese golden monkey

Regarded as one of the rarest and most precious animals left in the wild, the golden
monkey is only found in China.
The golden monkey’s stubbed nose is its most iconic feature, but there is a reason for
its size. Golden monkeys live in bitterly cold places high up in forests in the Chinese
mountains, so a long nose would be difficult to keep warm and may even succumb to
frostbite.
These features also make them an ‘Old World monkey’. An Old World monkey has
nostrils that, like ours, are close together, have similar hands and fingernails and thick
skin on their tails that are used for sitting.
They also have a very varied diet which changes with the seasons. During the summer
they will eat leaves and insects, in spring they gorge on seeds, buds and leaves, while
in autumn they tend to eat the remaining fruits, before tucking into the bark on the trees.
However, all year they will eat lichen, which is produced on trees when fungi and algae
combine.

Snow leopard
There is almost no doubt that the snow leopard is the most elusive cat on the planet.
Their population is spread thinly across central Asia, spanning 12 countries.
The snow leopard is most at home living among high, rugged mountain landscapes.
Their habitat means that they have to eat what they can catch, whatever it is. Leopards
can catch and kill prey three times their own weight, but sadly, despite their efforts they
are still being poached to an irreversible extent.
With large, powerful chest muscles, the snow leopard’s build means it can scale steep
slopes easily and its hind legs allow it to leap six times the length of its body.

Giant panda
The most iconic animal in China, the giant panda is one of the world’s most famous
animals. Adored by millions for its large, fluffy looking body, the panda is a symbol of
China.
The peaceful creature is known for its clumsy nature and has been the logo for the
WWF since it was founded, way back in 1961.
Pandas are the rarest of the bear species, mostly found in bamboo forests in the
highest reaches of western China. Each day, one panda will eat anything from 26 to 84
pounds of bamboo.
A protruding wrist bone acts like a thumb when they grip trees or bamboo, making it an
extremely effective evolutionary trait.