A rare Mexican axolotl discovered under a historic bridge in south Wales is believed to be an abandoned pet, according to animal welfare experts. The salamander, named Dippy by its finders, was spotted by 10-year-old Evie Hill in the River Ogmore near Bridgend on March 24, 2025.
Discovery Under the Dipping Bridge
The 15th-century Dipping Bridge over the River Ogwr (Ogmore) in Merthyr Mawr village got its name from gaps in the parapets where farmers once pushed sheep into the water for washing. Now, the bridge has lent its name to Dippy the axolotl, an alien-like amphibian found under its arches. Evie and her mother, Melanie Hill, who have taken in Dippy, believe the creature was deliberately released.
Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW) in Kent, said: “Axolotls are very cold tolerant and can survive outdoors in our climate. However, predatory fish like pike or perch would have made short work of it. It was in shallow water, so we can only speculate it was deliberately released. It’s illegal and never good from a welfare standpoint.”
The Axolotl Craze
Axolotls, named after an Aztec god, are known for their remarkable regenerative abilities, regrowing limbs, tails, and parts of internal organs. They are neotenic, remaining in a juvenile state throughout life and essentially stopping aging after about four years. Demand for pet axolotls has surged globally, driven by internet memes, videos, and their inspiration for Pokémon characters. The axolotl also inspired a dragon in the 2010 film How to Train Your Dragon and has appeared in games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox. In 2024, The Economist declared the salamander a “global superstar.”
However, rescue centres report that inexperienced owners often struggle. Failing to desex pets or accidentally mixing males and females can lead to overwhelming numbers—females can lay up to 1,500 eggs at once. Axolotls can grow to the size of a small cat and live up to 20 years in captivity.
Rescue Centres Overwhelmed
Some animal shelters have been swamped by axolotls. Nicole Rowe, who runs a small rescue centre in the West Midlands, bought her first from a local aquatics shop. Two months later, the shop called asking her to take an injured one dumped on its doorstep. “She had no legs, no tail, no filaments—she was in a really bad state. Once I rescued her, that was it. I have about 30 here now,” Rowe said.
Dippy was found with injuries to her tail and stomach, likely from a predator. The Hill family is documenting her recovery on TikTok. Melanie Hill posted: “She will still only eat bloodworm and prefers it from a syringe, but her appetite is returning. She has been having methylene blue soaks for her injured tail and belly. Fingers crossed she heals well.”
Newman urged owners who can no longer care for axolotls to seek help rather than release them into the wild. “We cover the whole of the UK, and there are many other rescues out there too,” he added.
