The article discusses the efforts to protect the Japanese giant salamander, a unique and endangered species in Japan. The researchers are working to find and preserve purebred Japanese giant salamanders, as the species is threatened by hybridization with Chinese giant salamanders that were released into the wild. The article also highlights the discovery of purebred South China giant salamanders in Japan, which could potentially aid in the conservation of the species in China. The researchers are hopeful that a breeding program could be established to save the South China giant salamander from extinction. The article emphasizes the importance of preserving these ancient amphibians and the challenges involved in protecting them from hybridization and other threats.