A 10-year-old girl has made a remarkable discovery in Wales, finding a critically endangered Mexican axolotl under a bridge in the River Ogmore, Bridgend. Evie Hill, from Leicester, was paddling with her mother Melanie when she spotted the nine-inch amphibian while turning over rocks. Recognising the species from the video game Minecraft, she quickly caught it and showed her mother, who was initially sceptical.
First Wild Axolotl in the UK
This is the first recorded sighting of a Mexican axolotl in the wild in the United Kingdom. The species is critically endangered, with only an estimated 50 to 1,000 individuals remaining worldwide. Evie named the axolotl Dippy, in honour of how he was discovered.
Legal Considerations
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to release non-native species into the environment. Therefore, Evie and her mother brought Dippy home. They initially kept him in a gravy jug before purchasing a proper container. Dippy now resides with the family in Leicester.
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, praised Evie's keen eye and quick actions, stating that she likely saved Dippy's life. He noted that catching an axolotl is no easy task, as they are slippery, and described the situation as unique.
