Why Mexico Wants You to Virtually Adopt an Axolotl Salamander (msn.com) 25
It can regenerate bits of its body. Ancient Mexicans revered it as a mischievous, shape-shifting god.
They named it axolotl — translation: "water monster" — and it's a "salamander with a Mona Lisa smile," reports the Washington Post, "an alien-looking creature with a permanent grin and a crown of feathery gills". But while there's over a million in the world's scientific laboratories, back in its only natural habitat — the canals of Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City — it's on the brink of extinction. In hopes of preventing the annihilation of a species with mystifying traits, ecologists at Mexico's National Autonomous University are giving the public the chance to virtually adopt an axolotl. For $30, $180 or $360, donors can choose the sex, age and name of the little buddy they get to call theirs for a month, six months or a year, respectively. The axolotls stay in Mexico, but donors receive an adoption kit with an infographic, the axolotl's identification card, a certificate of adoption and a personalized thank-you letter.
The campaign also includes options to buy an axolotl a meal for $10 or to fix up one of their homes for $50. And for those wanting to splurge a bit more, participants can adopt the axolotl's refuge of chinampas — the artificial islands that dot Lake Xochimilco — for one, six or 12 months starting at $450. The funds will go toward building refuges for the axolotl and restoring its habitat, which has been devastated by the effects of Mexico City's urbanization over the last decades, said Luis Zambrano, an ecologist at Mexico's National Autonomous University.
"A species can't be a species without its habitat," Zambrano said.
Axolotls have "helped scientists understand how organs develop in vertebrates, uncover the causes of the birth defect spina bifida and discover thyroid hormones..."
"The salamanders have also become beloved exotic pets — to the point that 'there's claw machines in Japan that let you pick up an axolotl to take home,' Zambrano added."
They named it axolotl — translation: "water monster" — and it's a "salamander with a Mona Lisa smile," reports the Washington Post, "an alien-looking creature with a permanent grin and a crown of feathery gills". But while there's over a million in the world's scientific laboratories, back in its only natural habitat — the canals of Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City — it's on the brink of extinction. In hopes of preventing the annihilation of a species with mystifying traits, ecologists at Mexico's National Autonomous University are giving the public the chance to virtually adopt an axolotl. For $30, $180 or $360, donors can choose the sex, age and name of the little buddy they get to call theirs for a month, six months or a year, respectively. The axolotls stay in Mexico, but donors receive an adoption kit with an infographic, the axolotl's identification card, a certificate of adoption and a personalized thank-you letter.
The campaign also includes options to buy an axolotl a meal for $10 or to fix up one of their homes for $50. And for those wanting to splurge a bit more, participants can adopt the axolotl's refuge of chinampas — the artificial islands that dot Lake Xochimilco — for one, six or 12 months starting at $450. The funds will go toward building refuges for the axolotl and restoring its habitat, which has been devastated by the effects of Mexico City's urbanization over the last decades, said Luis Zambrano, an ecologist at Mexico's National Autonomous University.
"A species can't be a species without its habitat," Zambrano said.
Axolotls have "helped scientists understand how organs develop in vertebrates, uncover the causes of the birth defect spina bifida and discover thyroid hormones..."
"The salamanders have also become beloved exotic pets — to the point that 'there's claw machines in Japan that let you pick up an axolotl to take home,' Zambrano added."
I like the concept, but (Score:2)
That pricing is ludicrous.
Re: (Score:2)
One thing they don’t regenerate is your wallet.
Perhaps an alternate plan is in order (Score:4, Interesting)
Since a lot of endangered species are banned as pets in places that care, if these guys are on their way out in their native habitat perhaps Mexico should be encouraging people to adopt them as pets.
They could start a campaign about how great they are, and offer 'genuine Mexican axolotls' with complete care kits all put together in Mexico and shipped wherever. They can last a day in a properly prepared (but small) container, I'd expect longer in something larger. Same day shipping of live animals isn't inexpensive, but for the US and Canadian markets at least they should be able to make it affordable.
Axolotls are fairly easy to care for, so even people who mostly neglect them aren't torturing them. And since their normal lifespan in the wild is about 5 years, that seems like a good length for a kid's first pet. Of course, if they take really good care of it, it'll go with them when they move out on their own - they can make it to 15.
If they become popular enough, in addition to creating a small industry in Mexico breeding them and selling care kits, they're simultaneously proofed against extinction should they ever have a natural habitat to return to.
Re: (Score:2)
The main issue I see there is that a lot of the people who are interested only seem to want the albino ones that fluoresce. If the idea is to save the species (maybe for eventual re-introduction into a restored habitat, should that ever come to pass), you'd probably want axolotls that have more natural traits.
They are cute little critters (my daughter keeps them), and can be fun to watch. I think they're easier to keep than fish.
Re: (Score:2)
The goal is for nature to survive not to get turned into pets. Keeping animals as pets (as well as breeding them for it) results in fundamental changes to the animal which is why they can't simply be released back into the wild.
The domestic breeds of animals are nothing like their wild counterparts. Even if you like pets, there's a good case to be made for preserving wild ones.
Be careful;! (Score:2)
>Ancient Mexicans revered it as a mischievous, shape-shifting god.
Actually, soul stealing, per the Aztecs.
And anyone who doesn't realize what a bad idea to deal with these little monsters needs to go back and read Julio Cortazar again!
hawk
Also ... (Score:2)
The funds will go toward building refuges for the axolotl and restoring its habitat, ...
And, of course, paying for a virtual wall between the U.S. and Mexico. :-)
[ But, then, how will I get to see my virtually adopted axolotl salamander? ]
Aren't there enough billionaires... (Score:2)
That sounds familiar... (Score:3)
Isn't this just like that Axie Infinity con, just with allegedly real Axolotls instead of NFT ones and less "gameplay"? D:
Once again. Too many people (Score:4, Insightful)
The funds will go toward building refuges for the axolotl and restoring its habitat, which has been devastated by the effects of Mexico City's urbanization over the last decades,
It's funny how when species go extinct it's either because they were hunted to death by humans (Dodos, carrier pigeons, tasmanian tiger) or their habitat was destroyed. Yet we're told humans have no effect on the planet and we need to keep breeding as much as possible and expand as much as possible.
If we want these and other species to survive, how about we stop trying to imitate locusts and control ourselves. Then we wouldn't have to have these requests for money to repair the damage we created.
Re: (Score:2)
Pretty much the entire West and most other places have a negative population growth rate with the notable exception of Africa and a few other smaller areas. Increased wealth, health, education and lifespan has put a natural stop to our expanding population. This has already started to become a demographic issue in many places and will get worse in the coming years as fewer younger working people are available to support more older people.
Who is advocating we continue mass breeding and expansion?
Re:Once again. Too many people (Score:4, Interesting)
Who is advocating we continue mass breeding and expansion?
The Muscovite Midget [independent.co.uk] for one. Cucker Carlson for another [deseret.com]. At least one Baptist Minister [newsweek.com].
There are folks on here who say the same thing. They claim the planet can tolerate another 2 or 3 billion people. Because, you know, the billions we have now aren't affecting anything.
Re: (Score:3)
Putin: yes his population of potential soldiers is shrinking. He wants more war. He's not getting it.
Carlson: has 4 kids makes him highly exceptional. The average is below replacement rate. No one is going to have kids because he said so.
An isolated loon in Texas no one has heard of? That's digging deep.
I'll give you one more: after years of 1 child policy and facing demographic catastrophe, China is now actively encouraging more children. Like Putin, they're not getting them, either.
So a dying empero
Re: (Score:3)
Pretty much the entire West and most other places have a negative population growth rate
No. Pretty much 5 countries in the west have negative population growth rates.
You're not very smart.
Who is advocating we continue mass breeding and expansion?
Economists.
Re: (Score:3)
I'm smarter than you. That's good enough for me.
You keep telling yourself that while spitting out complete and easily verifiable falsehoods. You're not fooling anyone. Except maybe yourself for obvious reasons.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Yet we're told humans have no effect on the planet and we need to keep breeding as much as possible and expand as much as possible.
No we're not told that. Being told something comes from a basis of authority and no scientific authority is saying we have no effect, quite the opposite.
Do not put rightwing nutjobs on the same pedestal as actual subject matter experts when deciding how the world works.
Axolotl Asylum (Score:3)
By the way, I find it comical that these places (where I live, for example) brag about their "open arms" and are now begging for everyone else to pay for it all. It's akin to offering friends and family a ride to the airport, but then calling a cab instead and asking everyone else to split the fare.
But you can't buy property in Mexico (Score:1)
Mexico is a third world country that doesn't allow non-citzens to buy property.
Until they allow people to buy property, set up factories, homes, etc., they won't have outside investment.
I'll leave the dicussion fo their corrupt government bought and paid for by their savage pieces of shit "Carteles" killing locals and foreigners evne on placid beaches of resorts to thsoe who give a shit about this piece of shit third world country.
Axolotls, Endangered. (Score:2)
The problem (Score:2)
I tried to do this. But they don't have an English version of their web site at al. Trying to use it with Google Translate is an exercise in frustration.
I emailed them asking about it too and they weren't very helpful.
claw machines in Japan with axolotl? (Score:2)
I don't think there is any UFO catcher with axolotl still in Japan. the "Woopa Looper" boom was in the 80s and died quite quickly afterwards.
The fad to eat the things deep fried lasted a little longer I think.