Golden Salamander

ABOUT THE ‘GOLDEN SALAMANDER’ PROJECT

The “Golden Salamander” project focuses on the gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica), seeking to document various aspects of its biology through photography and video. Using this material, it aims to raise public awareness of the importance of its conservation, combining art with nature conservation.

The gold-striped salamander

The gold-striped salamander is an iconic species of Portuguese herpetofauna, found only in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula. Its distinctive morphology makes it easy to distinguish from other salamanders and newts. Small in size and dependent on damp, dense habitats, it is a shy species that is difficult to spot. It is threatened primarily by its sensitivity to changes in the habitats on which it depends.

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Objectives

To raise awareness of one of Portugal’s most iconic species – understanding is key to conservation;
To highlight the importance of protecting and restoring the habitats on which it depends;
To reinforce, amongst the public, the role of the Serras do Porto Park in this mission to conserve the gold-striped salamander;
To educate the public about the importance of the gold-striped salamander and biodiversity in general.

RESULTS

As part of this project, we have produced a number of outputs that are essential for communicating and raising awareness of the importance of conserving the gold-striped salamander, including a documentary, a book and a series of environmental education sessions.

Documentary

The documentary Golden Salamander delves into the valleys and rivers of the Serras do Porto Park, a protected landscape where natural relics of incalculable value survive. Through it, the beauty and fragility of the gold-striped salamander, an endemic species and a symbol of Portuguese biodiversity, is revealed. More than just a film, it is a glimpse into the invisible and a call to preserve a unique treasure.

– Full documentary available soon –

Photo Book

The book “Golden Salamander” delves into the life of the gold-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica), an iconic species of Portuguese herpetofauna that is currently under threat. More than just a photographic book, it offers an in-depth look at the essence of the species, the threats it faces and the unique behaviours it displays in the Serras do Porto Park.
Combining art and conservation, this work aims to introduce the general public to the Lusitanian salamander and its life story, through photographs carefully designed to reveal not only its beauty, but also its vulnerabilities.