Girl, 10, finds one of world’s rarest amphibians under bridge in Wales
A 10-year-old girl came across one of the world’s rarest amphibians while playing in a Welsh lake.
While exploring under a bridge near the River Ogmore in Bridgend, South Wales, Evie Hill spotted the first Mexican axolotl documented in the wild in Britain.
There are only 1,000 of the endangered amphibians left in the wild, and Evie’s find is believed to have been rescued from captivity by its owner.
speaking to the BBC Evie said of finding the 25cm-long animal: “I went down to the bank and there was a green mat there, I picked it up and there was an axolotl.”
Her mother, Melanie, said she was skeptical when Evie first told her she had found the amphibian. “I thought you saw a salamander or something,” he said. “Evie finds things like this all the time—not axolotls, but salamanders and beetles.
“It was a complete surprise to see you actually hold this axolotl. I never knew they could get this big and 1777096002 here I am with one in my kitchen.
The family cut their holiday short to take the axolotl back to their home in Leicester and said they spent hours researching how to keep him safe.
Evie has now named the axolotl Dippy and said she fascinated her classmates at school. “Everyone at school was amazed by Dippy’s story,” he said. “I think this is really interesting.”
Chris Newman, director of the National Center for Reptile Welfare, said Evie “probably saved the axolotl’s life.”
“This is the first time this has been documented in the UK and it wouldn’t have lasted very long if Evie hadn’t seen it,” he said. “The predators would have eaten him for lunch and he already had bite marks on his back.”
Axolotls are found only in the Xochimilco lake complex near Mexico City and can grow up to 12 inches long.
The RSPCA said it had seen a surge in online searches to buy axolotls following the introduction of the amphibians into the Minecraft game in June 2021, jumping from around 11,000 to 50,000 searches per month.
The charity’s Dr Ros Clubb has previously warned that these animals are not easy to care for and should never be “impulsively purchased” as pets.
“We are particularly concerned about the emergence of new pet trends, such as axolotls, because exotic pets often come into our care later when people realize they are not easy to care for or when the novelty wears off,” he said.
“Playing with an axolotl in Minecraft is one thing, but caring for a real live axolotl is a completely different matter. These amphibians require care and attention throughout their entire lives, which can last up to 15 years, long after the kids have flown the nest.”
