A 10-year-old girl from Leicester made an extraordinary discovery while playing near a lake in Wales, finding one of the world's rarest amphibians in the wild.
Unexpected Find Under a Bridge
Evie Hill was exploring under a bridge near the River Ogmore in Bridgend, south Wales, when she stumbled upon a Mexican axolotl. This marks the first documented occurrence of this species in the wild in Britain.
With only about 1,000 Mexican axolotls remaining in their natural habitat, the discovery is considered highly significant. Experts believe the animal was likely released from captivity by its owner.
Speaking to the BBC about finding the nine-inch-long creature, Evie said: "I went down to the bank and there was this green mat, I lifted it up and there was an axolotl there."
Her mother, Melanie, admitted initial skepticism. "I thought she’d seen a newt or something," she said. "Evie’s always finding things like this — not axolotls — but newts and bugs. It was just a complete surprise to see that she was actually holding this axolotl. I never even knew that they could grow that big, and [now] here I am with one in my kitchen."
Rescue and Aftermath
The family cut their holiday short to transport the axolotl to their home in Leicester, spending hours researching how to keep it safe. Evie has named the axolotl Dippy, and her classmates are fascinated by the story.
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, praised Evie's actions. "This is the first time one has been documented in the UK, and it would not have lived very long if Evie hadn’t seen it," he said. "Predatory animals would have had it for lunch, and it already had bite marks on its back."
Axolotl Facts and Concerns
Axolotls are native only to the lake complex of Xochimilco near Mexico City and can grow up to 12 inches long. They are critically endangered in the wild.
The RSPCA reported a surge in online searches for axolotls after they were introduced to the game Minecraft in June 2021, with monthly searches jumping from around 11,000 to 50,000. Dr. Ros Clubb from the charity warned against impulse buying. "We're particularly concerned when new pet trends such as axolotls emerge as exotic pets often end up in our care later down the line when people realise they're not easy to care for, or once the novelty wears off," she said. "Playing with an axolotl in Minecraft is one thing, but taking on the care of a real live axolotl is a whole different matter. These amphibians need care and attention for their entire lives, which can be 15 years - long after the kids may have flown the nest."
