Axolotls, the Oh-Si-Cute but Salamanders in critical danger Endemic to the channels in southern Mexico City, can successfully adapt to wild habitats after being raised in captivity, according to a new study.
The results, published last week in the scientific journal Plos one, Offer a life buoy for species, including the wild population – now limited Precarious and deteriorated channels and wetlands of Lake Xochimilco – fell due to pollution, invasive species and loss of habitat.
As noted by the main study of the study, Alejandra Ramos, In an interview on “All Things Review” of NPR this week, Researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and international conservation have released nine male axolotls and nine females in the wild.
Two sites in southern Mexico City have been chosen: wetlands restored in Xochimilco lake, The last natural bastion of the species, and the Cantera guides, a semi-natural / artificial wetland in the San Ángel ecological reserve.
Operated with tiny high frequency trackers, amphibians – whose image was On the back of 50 peso bills since the end of 2021, After replacing the Morelia aqueducts and the monarch butterflies – were monitored for 40 days, all the surviving individuals at the duration and three recaptured samples showing a weight gain, indicating a search for successful food.
The axolotls had distinct models of movement, with those of Xochimilco covering larger territories (2,747 square meters) compared to the Cantera (382 square meters).
Overall, women have traveled further on a daily basis – 86.75 meters against 54.33 meters of men – while older axolotles have moved shorter distances, perhaps due to the selection of the territory.
“If they had been thin or sick, it would have been really bad for us,” said Ramos, a biologist at the Autonomous University of Baja California, highlighting the health of recovered individuals.
Despite these successes, predatory birds have become a critical challenge. Large egrets have been observed attacking two axolotles in Xochimilco, which caused calls for awareness training in predators before liberation to improve survival rates.
“The high mortality due to predation is a major cause of failure of reintroduction programs,” noted the study, stressing the need for adaptive strategies.
The study also highlighted the potential of wetlands of human manufacturing such as the Cantera as complementary habitats.
“It’s a bit like having a plan B,” said Esther Quintero de International Mexico Conservation.
However, scientists emphasize that the revitalization of Xochimilco remains essential.
“We must preserve Xochimilco for having axolotl,” said the unam biologist, Luis Zambrano, comparing the effort to Save the Arctic for polar bears.
Axolotls, Venerated in Aztec mythology and appreciated for their regeneration capacities as well as their kindness, have seen wild populations drop by more than 80% since 2006 due to the contamination of wastewater and agricultural runoff.
Xochimilco restoration Chinampas – The Aztecs agricultural islands of human manufacture which have created networks of channels – have become a focal point, the authors of the study advocating an extended rehabilitation of housing.
The results coincide with broader initiatives to protect the species – as the 2 year old child Campaign “Adopting an axolotl” and a newly announced partnership involving Axolotitlán: The National Axolotl Museum and Rappicard.
Together, the museum (in the Tarango ecological park in southern Mexico City) and the Rappicard (a product initially offered by the Rappi food delivery application and now owned by Banort) launched a documentary, “Axolotitlán: enclosure of Resilincia y region conservation.
The 15 -minute doc Can be seen on the Rappicardx Youtube channel; It is in Spanish, but the English subtitles generated automatically can be selected in the settings.
“If we can restore this habitat in a city of 20 million people,” said Zambrano, “we have hope for humanity.”
With reports from A television,, Mongabay,, Smithsonian Magazine,, Sentence And Political animal
