A rare axolotl, nicknamed Dippy, was discovered under the 15th-century Dipping Bridge in Merthyr Mawr, near Bridgend, south Wales, by 10-year-old Evie Hill last weekend. The 22cm Mexican salamander, critically endangered in its native Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City, is believed to be the first found in the wild in the UK.
Experts and the finders suspect Dippy was an abandoned pet, fuelled by a global craze for axolotls inspired by Pokémon and other media. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, said the shallow water location suggests deliberate release, which is illegal and harmful to the animal. He noted that predatory fish like pike or perch would likely have eaten the axolotl if it had remained in deeper water.
Axolotls are known for their regenerative abilities, regrowing limbs and parts of organs, and remain in a juvenile state throughout their lives. However, inexperienced owners often struggle with their care; females can lay up to 1,500 eggs, and the animals can live up to 20 years in captivity, growing to the size of a small cat. Rescue centres report being overwhelmed with surrendered axolotls.
Dippy was found with injuries to her tail and stomach, likely from a predator. Evie's mother, Melanie Hill, is documenting the axolotl's recovery on TikTok, noting that Dippy is eating bloodworm and receiving methylene blue soaks for her wounds. Newman urged owners who can no longer care for axolotls to contact rescue centres rather than releasing them into the wild.
