A child finds a Mexican axolotl in a river in Wales
Introduction
A 10-year-old girl, Evie Hill, found a Mexican axolotl in a river in south Wales on April 10. This is the first time someone found this animal in the wild in the United Kingdom. The animal probably came from a pet owner. The family now takes care of it.
Main Body
Evie Hill found the axolotl near the River Ogmore in Bridgend. She lifted a green mat on the riverbank. The axolotl was nine inches long. Her mother first thought it was a common newt. The axolotl had bite marks on its tail and stomach. The family cut short a holiday to take the animal to their home in Leicester. They named it Dippy after the bridge where they found it. Chris Newman, an expert, said the girl saved the axolotl's life. In the wild, other animals could kill it. He said this is the first time someone saw a Mexican axolotl in the British wild. The animal probably came from a previous owner. Releasing a pet into the wild is illegal and bad for wildlife. Axolotls only live in one lake complex near Mexico City. There are only between 50 and 1,000 left in the wild. The RSPCA said more people search for axolotls online after the video game Minecraft added them in 2021. Monthly searches went from about 11,000 to 50,000. Dr Ros Clubb said this leads people to buy axolotls without thinking. Then they leave the animals when they are hard to care for. Axolotls need special care and can live up to 15 years. The Hill family now has a bigger tank. They work with experts to make good conditions for Dippy. The mother said they will move the axolotl to the new tank soon. Evie Hill said her classmates are very interested in the story.
Conclusion
The discovery of a Mexican axolotl in a Welsh river is unusual. The animal was probably released from a home. Now the family takes care of it with help from experts. Wildlife groups warn people not to buy exotic pets without thinking first.