Indeed, most axolotls in Wales are Welsh axolotls.

But I do wonder how many do live in Wales. If it’s not just an abandoned pet that would be really interesting.

codezero 6 hours ago | parent | next [-]

From the article it doesn't appear they've ever been found alive in the wild anywhere but their natural habitat. This was likely a remarkable chance happening where an owner released one and she found it within close succession or else it likely would have died very quickly.

If there is a wild population, that would be an even more amazing story.

	▲	OJFord 5 hours ago \| parent [-]
		I did think it was strange they didn't spell that out though. Maybe they thought 'Mexican' makes it clear, but it reads too easily like a species name.

▲

culi 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

It is absolutely an abandoned pet. They cannot survive outside the tropics. Hell, they can't even survive outside the 2 lakes in Mexico City that they're hyperadapted to

There are less than 1,000 of them in the wild. Trust me if it was possible to establish a population somewhere else outside of captivity, scientists and conservationists would already be on it

▲

krisoft 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

> It is absolutely an abandoned pet.

That. Or the family fabricated the story for online fame.

Not saying that i have any evidence either way. Fundamentaly it is an unverifiable feel-good story with great online “viral” potential. It might be a very lucky axolotl who got abandoned, found and re-captured in the short window it could survive in the wild. It can also be a viral content strategy capturing eyeballs. In my, admitedly very jaded, guestimate I would give the two options about equal chances.

▲

prmoustache 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Examples in the wild are - bar the possibility of an albino example - all dark skinned. The pink/light skinned ones are the results of mutations and ultimately selective breeding in the pet population.

▲

uoaei 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

So is it likely this one merely escaped? I find it hard to believe someone who would own one of these would not be an enthusiast, and that enthusiasts wouldn't find another owner for a critically endangered species rather than merely drop it under a local bridge.

▲

culi 3 hours ago | parent [-]

No it is extremely unlikely this is an "escape". This would be lucky to survive for a week in Europe. Almost certainly what happened is someone bought one and then realized they are too complicated to take care of and decided to dump it in a spot they thought looked pretty

Also there are 1,000 of these in the wild but there are over a million of them in captivity. You can get a typical morph for about $50.

	▲	sidewndr46 43 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		It's this, for sure. An axolotl is not going to live in the wild. I own a home near a public pond. There are pretty much always fancy goldfish swimming in it during the time of the year that everyone moves out. People just decide not to keep their fish.