Professor 'Lew' is already a big hit with zookeepers.

Four Chinese giant salamanders have been taken in by ZSL London Zoo after Border Force prevented an attempt to smuggle them into the country. The animals are critically endangered, often referred to as living fossils, and have remained largely unchanged for millions of years.

One of the animals already on display is called Professor ‘Lew’, named after the Chinese for ‘dragon keepers’. Zookeepers will eventually introduce one of the other salamanders in an attempt to boost their numbers.

ZSL’s curator of amphibians, Ben Tapley, said: “Chinese giant salamanders may not be everyone’s idea of beautiful – I’ve heard them described as giant brown blobs with eyes – but Professor Lew’s crinkly purple tail and slimy smile have already made the newcomer a big hit with all our keepers, who have been finding any excuse to visit the Reptile House.”

Image (C) ZSL London.