Unveiling the Survival Secrets and Conservation Challenges of the SalamandersTo increase the public’s understanding and conservation awareness of alpine ecosystems, the Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters (the Headquarters) held an ecological lecture at the National Library of Public Information. The first session of 2025 invited ecological documentary director Mai, Jue-Ming to speak on the topic "I Come from the Distant North ~ Asiatic Salamanders 2.0," sharing his years of documenting Taiwan's rare endemic species—the salamanders—and his ecological observations. The event attracted over 250 participants interested in natural conservation, including families, students, teachers, and environmental education workers. The venue was filled to capacity with enthusiastic response, making it not only an intellectual feast but also a spiritual journey about mountain and forest life.Exploring the Ecological Wonder of Salamanders: Living Fossils from the Ice Age to TodayThe Asiatic salamanders are alpine amphibian species endemic to Taiwan. There are 5 species of salamanders in Taiwan, with an evolutionary history dating back to the Ice Age, earning them the title of "living fossils." They are mainly distributed in mid-to-high altitude, cool and clear streams, and are extremely sensitive to habitat conditions, making them highly indicative environmental species. Due to climate change and human activities, the salamanders are facing habitat fragmentation and survival crises. The Headquarters has been conducting long-term population and habitat ecological surveys of salamanders. Since 2020, it has collaborated with Yushan National Park Headquarters and Taroko National Park Headquarters on cross-domain salamander research. Through educational promotion, they aim to increase the public’s awareness of salamander conservation. The efforts of the national parks are not only aimed at protecting the salamanders' living environment but also hope to draw society's attention to natural ecology, encouraging more people to commit to the conservation of Taiwan's 5 endemic salamander species.From the North to Shei-Pa National Park: Revealing the Salamanders’ Survival Secrets and Conservation ChallengesDirector Mai, Jue-Ming shared his interactions with researchers and locals during filming, demonstrating the possibility of human-nature coexistence. He emphasized that the documentary is not only about scientific discoveries but also a heartwarming narrative of life, hoping that through images, more people will pay attention to "the life hiding under stones." Through video documentation, the salamanders display various parental care behaviors, including wrapping strings of eggs around their heads to ensure successful hatching. The precious footage from Professor Ju, Yu-Ten of National Taiwan University in his captive breeding experiments initiated in June 2021, and the most recent record of successfully hatched baby salamanders on January 1, 2025. These bring new hope to salamander conservation efforts, allowing everyone to feel the challenges and beauty of salamander survival.Shei-Pa National Park Launches "Asiatic Salamanders Exhibition," Helping Children Learn About Conservation Through Family Interactive ActivitiesAdditionally, the "Exploring Asiatic Salamanders Exhibition" jointly organized by Shei-Pa, Yushan, Taroko National Park Headquarters, and the National Library of Public Information began officially on April 23, 2025, at the Library's first-floor lobby. Originally scheduled to end on June 15, 2025, the exhibition has been extended to July 6, 2025, due to overwhelming public reception. This exhibition aims to enhance public understanding of the salamanders and their habitats. During the exhibition period, the Headquarters’ volunteers provide professional guided interpretation services every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and arrange family-friendly interactive activities, including salamander habitat painting, paper sculpture making, and puppet shows, which have attracted many families to participate. The quiz competitions and junior interpreter experiences designed by the Headquarters’ volunteer team allow children to learn conservation knowledge through games. Participating children expressed hopes to become "forest guardians" in the future, while parents agreed that this lively approach brings children closer to nature and cultivates environmental awareness.Deepening Environmental Education Promotion, Working Together to Protect Taiwan's Alpine Ecological TreasuresLin, Wen-ho, Director of Shei-Pa National Park Headquarters, pointed out that the salamanders are Taiwan's endemic relic species from the Ice Age, invaluable witnesses to the natural evolutionary process. Their sensitivity to temperature, water quality, and habitat conditions makes them early warning indicators of ecological crises under climate change. National parks have long collaborated with academia to conduct salamander population monitoring and habitat restoration, while continuously investing in environmental education through ecological conservation lectures, exhibitions, and campus outreach programs, enabling more people to understand the ecological value of these "mountain forest hermits." The Headquarters will continue to combine imagery with diverse resources to promote conservation actions with public participation, hoping that through our collective efforts, we can create a more sustainable future for Taiwan's mountain forests and the wildlife living within them.