Thursday 6 November 2008

Save The Axolotl

The alien-looking Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution. The number of axolotls has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year.


One problem is with non-native fish species like the Asian Carp and the African tilapia that eat young Axolotls. They haven't evolved in the same environment, so they don't have good defense mechanisms against them. The other big issue is habitat destruction. Lakes have been drained, and wastewater from Mexico City pollute waterways.

11 comment(s):

Unknown said...

I too am trying to increase awareness of this. I'm looking to find a pro active group that is doing something to tackle this problem, do you know of any? Rae

Unknown said...

EAT AFRICAN TILAPIA
1. ITS DELICOUS!
2. ITS KILLING THE AXOLOTL!
EAT AFRICAN TILAPIA! EAT THEM TO EXTINCTION!

Anonymous said...

Hey try to help the axolotl as best you can.We need to try and save them anybody who reads this please try to help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

If you are reading this please help the poor little Axototl survive. Do this by telling people in your commity please.

Anonymous said...

help the axolotol!!!!

Anonymous said...

I want to help the axolotl. Problem is, there doesn't seem to be anyone doing any helping. I googled it, and no major wildlife association or conservativon organization had a page come up with some place you could donate to, or who the right authorities would be to contact. The suggestion olivia gave, of eating African Tilapia, will probably only exacerbate the problem, as fishing African Tilapia will become more profitable the more people eat them, which will lead greedy locals in Mexico City to continue stocking them where the axolotl lives.

I suggest anyone interested in how to help, actually begin doing some of the work yourself and ask wildlife groups to direct some resources that way. That's what I'm going to go do right now.

Anonymous said...

hey i found an organisation in mexico who wants to save the axolotl its called: GIA-X (search on google) i cant understand mexican because im dutch. the biggest problems are: the dirty environment and the african tilapia. im 13 and still at school. but im going to chose a biologic frame and i want to save the axolotl. does anybody know an english (or dutch) organisation?

Anonymous said...

please save him he his so awesome!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

come on guys we gotta save the little guy their so beuitiful and cool i cant find a commity thats saving them but i bet you can:D

Anonymous said...

I also agree with the comment above. Its all good saying to save the Axolotls but how? they may be going extinct but not many people actually seem to want to create something big for these gorgeous creatures. I have 3 Axolotls of my own and if I could id have all of them. Some people are helping by breeding these little guys but to be honest seeing them in their natural habitat would be great! the African Tilapia may be one of the causes of extinction but again you cant do nothing about that I mean that's natural the African Tilapia needs to eat too its how the life cycle goes. But if people who keep draining these lakes and destructing their habitats actually took into consideration that is a creatures home it would help save a lot of them. From experience of having my own all my little guys have beautiful personalities and they are such amazing animals to have and save! All for having an Organisation for these little guys love them :)

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