The Yunnan Lake newt was a newt that lived in the region in and around Kunming Lake in the Yunnan Province in China which is 5,905 feet above sea level. In the springtime, thousands of Yunnan Lake newts could be seen swimming among aquatic plants in the shallows during the breeding season. These newts would also move into irrigation canals, ponds, and swamps. During the colder winter months the Yunnan Lake newts would move to deeper water and hibernate under the mud. The newts’ population declined as the urbanization of the area increased. Newts, like all amphibians, are extremely sensitive to changes in the water. The amount of pollution in the water began to take a toll on the newts. The increase in domestic duck farming also affected the water where these newts lived. The addition of non-native fish into Kunming Lake also took a toll on the Yunnan Lake newt population. Many surveys have been done, but the last confirmed sighting was in 1979, although a local fisherman claimed to have seen a newt in 1984. Although Jurassic Park is fiction, scientists are working on several de-extinction projects. In fact, in 2003 scientists did bring back the extinct Pyrenean ibex, a type of wild goat, for 7 minutes before it died, showing de-extinction is possible. The Yunnan Lake newt might be a candidate. Scientists would potentially use DNA from the few remaining skins and specimens at museums. If the Yunnan Lake newt was brought to life, could it ever be reintroduced to its native homeland in Kunming Lake in China? The urbanization in China is in conflict with many native species. Some animals are able to adapt to living alongside humans, and others struggle to survive. The pollution, duck farms, and invasive species brought to the lake would make establishing a wild population difficult at this point. Hopefully in the future it might be possible. If the Yunnan Lake newt was brought back it could be bred in captivity like the Panamanian golden frog, which is currently extinct in the wild but being bred with the hopes it can be reintroduced to its native Panama some day in the future. Perhaps the same could be true for the Yunnan Lake newt.