Young Nature Enthusiast Finds Endangered Amphibian
A nature-loving 10-year-old girl has astonished her mother after discovering an endangered amphibian beneath a bridge. Melanie Hill expressed feelings of "shock, surprise and disbelief" following her daughter Evie's remarkable find.
Evie found the nine-inch Mexican axolotl while spending time near the River Ogmore in Bridgend. Melanie noted that Evie is "always finding things" such as newts and bugs, but the discovery of the axolotl was unexpected.
This marks the first documented sighting of an axolotl in the wild in the UK. Experts estimate that only between 50 and 1,000 individuals remain worldwide today.
Evie first noticed the pale axolotl nestled among rocks after lifting a discarded mat in the shallow waters of the River Ogmore. She was playing under the 'Dipping Bridge' at the entrance to Merthyr Mawr village when she observed the creature, which appeared to have damage to its tail and stomach.
"I went down to the bank and there was this axolotl there," said Evie. "I caught it and brought it back."
The family chose to cut their holiday short to bring the axolotl back to their home in Leicester, naming it Dippy in tribute to the location where Evie found it.
Chris Newman, director of the National Council for Reptile Welfare, stated that Evie likely saved Dippy's life by discovering it.
Initially, Melanie was not surprised by the find, given her daughter's fascination with nature. However, she soon realized this was an extraordinary discovery for a day trip to south Wales.
"I've been telling Evie all this time that those creatures she watches on YouTube, they're not real. Here I am with one in my kitchen," she said.
Melanie admitted she did not realize axolotls could grow as large as they do. Experts indicate they can reach up to 12 inches in length but average about 9 inches.
She added that the family has "spent hours" researching how to maintain the axolotl's health and have "no regrets" about bringing it home.
Dippy has become popular at Evie's school, where she shares the story of her new pet.
"Everybody at school is fascinated about the story of Dippy," she said. "I think it's really interesting."
A Surge in Popularity Fueled by Video Games
Axolotls as pets have gained popularity in recent years, partly due to their inclusion in video games such as Minecraft and Roblox.
The RSPCA has expressed concern that this trend leads to people underestimating the care these animals require, resulting in some owners being unable to provide proper care.
Dr Ros Clubb, from the charity, said: "There are a lot of young axolotls, and their eggs, being advertised for sale online so we do fear that they are becoming more popular amongst children. They are not easy pets to keep and buying any animal should never be an impulse buy."
He added that caring for axolotls can be "very challenging" because they have the same environmental, dietary, and behavioral needs in captivity as in the wild.
Guidance on Handling Endangered Animal Discoveries
Discoveries of rare creatures like Dippy should always be reported to government authorities through organizations such as the National Council for Reptile Welfare.
Chris Newman noted there have been no recorded sightings of Mexican axolotls in the UK or globally, emphasizing that Evie probably saved the animal's life.
"This is quite a unique situation, and I think the young female has a keen eye to actually spot it. I think she did remarkable to find him," he added.
Newman explained that without Evie's intervention, the axolotl had little chance of survival, so she "did him a real favour" by catching him.
"That itself is no mean feat," he said. "They're quite slippery, so I think she did really well."
