A company in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, is preparing to submit documents to the Guinness World Records to apply to have a giant Chinese salamander recognized as the largest in the world.

The salamander, Benben, is 130 years old and about 2 meters long. In 2005, it was measured and found to be 1.80 meters long and 65 kilograms.

Wang Guoxing, a farmer in Zhangjiajie who used to own the salamander, bought Benben in 1982, when the animal was slightly smaller at 1.5 meters and 45 kilograms.

In recent years, because the amphibian has become old and weak, Benben has been kept in natural caves in the Zhangjiajie Chinese Giant Salamander National Nature Reserve.

The animal is now owned by the Zhangjiajie Jinni Biotechnology Company. Wang Jianwen, who runs the company, said the Guinness recognition is being pursued to arouse public attention and to protect the rare animal.

Xinhua