TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency Chiayi Branch said Friday it has signed a memorandum of understanding, MOU, with Taiwan Mobile to strengthen conservation efforts for the Alishan salamander, a species endemic to Taiwan.

The Alishan salamander (Hynobius arisanensis) is one of five species of Asiatic salamanders found in Taiwan and has the widest distribution among them, per CNA. It also lives closer to the equator than any other species of Asiatic salamander. The species was designated as protected by the Ministry of Agriculture in 2019.

According to the Chiayi Branch, Taiwan Mobile has collaborated with National Taiwan University Professor Ju Yu-ten’s (朱友田) research team to preserve Taiwan’s salamander species. Through the MOU, the company aims to deepen its commitment to the conservation of the Alishan salamander and its habitat.

The Alishan National Forest Recreation Area began research on the species and its habitat in 1982, becoming the first site in Taiwan to do so. In 2019, the area also began placing additional natural materials on the forest floor within salamander habitats to create a more suitable environment for the amphibians.

The Chiayi Branch urged visitors to stay on marked trails and avoid entering restricted areas to prevent damage to the salamanders’ habitats.

Yushan National Park Headquarters, which governs another important habitat for the Alishan salamander, released a documentary on April 10 showcasing the species’ reproductive behavior. A shortened version of the film is available on YouTube. The park has commissioned Ju’s team to study the salamander population within the park since 2020.

Deputy Director Bagkall Takeshaifang Takebunauz Bunun (邦卡兒．海放南) told CNA that, in addition to the ongoing research, the park hired a filming crew to document the research process and the salamanders’ hatching behavior.