health
Rare axolotl found under Welsh bridge probably an abandoned pet, say experts
Craze for Mexican salamander as pets fuelled by Pokémon but inexperienced owners are often out of their depths
TL;DR
- An axolotl, possibly the first found wild in the UK, was discovered under the 15th-century Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr, Wales.
- Experts suspect the axolotl was abandoned due to a surge in its popularity as a pet, fueled by internet memes, videos, and its inspiration for characters in media like Pokémon and Fortnite.
- Axolotls are critically endangered and native only to Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City.
- Rescue centers report being overwhelmed with axolotls as inexperienced owners struggle to care for them, leading to illegal releases.
- The discovered axolotl, nicknamed Dippy, had injuries to its tail and stomach, believed to be from a predator, and is now recovering with its new owners who are documenting its progress online.
- Axolotls are known for their regenerative abilities and neotenic development, remaining in a juvenile state their entire lives.
- It is illegal and harmful to release non-native species into the wild.