A family on holiday in Wales rescued an injured axolotl from a river, and the amphibian is now on the road to recovery. The axolotl, named Dippy, was discovered under the Dipping Bridge on the River Ogmore near Bridgend by 10-year-old Evie Hill. She lifted a discarded mat in the shallows and found the 9-inch aquatic salamander nestled in the rocks.
Discovery and Rescue
Evie told her mother, Melanie, that she had seen an axolotl in the river, but her mother initially did not believe her. However, Evie returned to the water and caught the creature. Dippy had injuries to its tail and stomach, likely caused by a predator. The family sought expert advice and were allowed to keep the axolotl at their home in Leicester.
Dippy's Recovery and TikTok Fame
The family is documenting Dippy's recovery in a fish tank on TikTok, where the axolotl has gained a following. They speculate that Dippy may have been abandoned by a pet owner. Axolotls are native only to Lake Xochimilco in Mexico and are critically endangered in the wild. However, they have become popular pets due to exposure on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, as well as in video games such as Minecraft and Roblox.
Axolotl Characteristics
Axolotls are known for their regenerative abilities, capable of regrowing tissue, including a new spinal cord within a new tail if they lose it. They were one of the inspirations for Toothless the dragon in the film How to Train Your Dragon. In 2020, the video game Fortnite introduced an axolotl character named Axo, and Minecraft added axolotls in 2021.
Expert Advice and Legal Considerations
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, stated that if Dippy had not been rescued, it had little chance of survival. He commended Evie for her actions. According to pet care websites, axolotls can live for more than 10 years with proper care. They require a cool water temperature between 16C and 18C, a secure lid to prevent escapes, and a setup similar to fish but with specific modifications. It is illegal to release axolotls into the wild.
