Skip to content
August 20, 2025
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • tiktok
MILLENNIUM NEWS 24/7

MILLENNIUM NEWS 24/7

Bridging The Community’s World Wide

  • Home
  • IP TV LIVE
  • PODCAST
  • U.S.News
  • LOCAL ELECTION
  • State News
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Maine
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • Nevada
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • West Virginia
    • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Politics
  • World News
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • Weather
  • Business
  • Health News
  • ADVERTISEMENT
  • About Us
  • Contact us
Live TV

‘Adopt an axolotl’ campaign launches in Mexico to save iconic species

Ecologists from Mexico’s National Autonomous university on Friday relaunched a fundraising campaign to bolster conservation efforts for axolotls, an iconic, endangered fish-like type of salamander.

The campaign, called “Adoptaxolotl,” asks people for as little as 600 pesos (about $35) to virtually adopt one of the tiny “water monsters.” Virtual adoption comes with live updates on your axolotl’s health. For less, donors can buy one of the creatures a virtual dinner.

In their main habitat the population density of Mexican axolotls (ah-ho-LOH’-tulz) has plummeted 99.5% in under two decades, according to scientists behind the fundraiser.

Last year’s Adoptaxolotl campaign raised just over 450,000 pesos ($26,300) towards an experimental captive breeding program and efforts to restore habitat in the ancient Aztec canals of Xochimilco, a southern borough of Mexico City.

Still, there are not enough resources for thorough research, said Alejandro Calzada, an ecologist surveying less well-known species of axolotls for the government’s environment department.

“We lack big monitoring of all the streams in Mexico City,” let alone the whole country, said Calzada, who leads a team of nine researchers. “For this large area it is not enough.”

Despite the creature’s recent rise to popularity, almost all 18 species of axolotl in Mexico remain critically endangered, threatened by encroaching water pollution, a deadly amphibian fungus and non-native rainbow trout.

While scientists could once find 6,000 axolotls on average per square kilometer in Mexico, there are now only 36, according to the National Autonomous university’s latest census. A more recent international study found less than a thousand Mexican axolotls left in the wild.

Luis Zambrano González, one of the university’s scientists announcing the fundraiser, told The Associated Press he hopes to begin a new census (the first since 2014) in March.

“There is no more time for Xochimilco,” said Zambrano. “The invasion” of pollution “is very strong: soccer fields, floating dens. It is very sad.”

Without data on the number and distribution of different axolotl species in Mexico, it is hard to know how long the creatures have left, and where to prioritize what resources are available.

“What I know is that we have to work urgently,” said Calzada.

Axolotls have grown into a cultural icon in Mexico for their unique, admittedly slimy, appearance and uncanny ability to regrow limbs. In labs around the world, scientists think this healing power could hold the secret to tissue repair and even cancer recovery.

In the past, government conservation programs have largely focused on the most popular species: the Mexican axolotl, found in Xochimilco. But other species can be found across the country, from tiny streams in the valley of Mexico to the northern Sonora desert.

Mexico City’s expanding urbanization has damaged the water quality of the canals, while in lakes around the capital rainbow trout which escape from farms can displace axolotls and eat their food.

Calzada said his team is increasingly finding axolotls dead from chrytid fungus, a skin-eating disease causing catastrophic amphibian die offs from Europe to Australia.

While academics rely on donations and Calzada’s team turns to a corps of volunteers, the Mexican government recently approved an 11% funding cut for its environment department.

Over its six year term the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador will have given 35% less money to the country’s environment department than its predecessor, according to an analysis of Mexico’s 2024 budget.

About Author

dreamboy

See author's posts

Continue Reading

Previous: One of world’s largest icebergs drifting beyond Antarctic waters after it was grounded for 3 decades
Next: Buyers worldwide go for bigger cars, erasing gains from cleaner tech. EVs would help

Related Stories

Nearly half of National Weather Service offices have 20% vacancy rates, and experts say it’s a risk

Nearly half of National Weather Service offices have 20% vacancy rates, and experts say it’s a risk

At least 37 dead after tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms wreak havoc across multiple US states

At least 37 dead after tornadoes, wildfires and dust storms wreak havoc across multiple US states

Photos show Debby’s path of destruction from Florida to Vermont

Photos show Debby’s path of destruction from Florida to Vermont

Entertainment

The story behind Devo’s ‘Whip It’ and their misunderstood legacy 1

The story behind Devo’s ‘Whip It’ and their misunderstood legacy

‘Ketamine Queen’ accused of selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry agrees to plead guilty 2

‘Ketamine Queen’ accused of selling fatal dose to Matthew Perry agrees to plead guilty

Terence Stamp, British actor who portrayed General Zod in early Superman films, dies at 87 3

Terence Stamp, British actor who portrayed General Zod in early Superman films, dies at 87

‘Weapons’ maintains top spot in second weekend, scaring off newcomer ‘Nobody 2′ 4

‘Weapons’ maintains top spot in second weekend, scaring off newcomer ‘Nobody 2′

‘Devil in the Ozarks’ planned prison escape for months, cited lax security in kitchen, report says 5

‘Devil in the Ozarks’ planned prison escape for months, cited lax security in kitchen, report says

Michelle Yeoh brings Chinese blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2′ to life in English dub 6

Michelle Yeoh brings Chinese blockbuster ‘Ne Zha 2′ to life in English dub

Taylor Swift’s chat with the Kelces on ‘New Heights’ marks a milestone moment for podcasts 7

Taylor Swift’s chat with the Kelces on ‘New Heights’ marks a milestone moment for podcasts

Top News

Air Force’s top uniformed officer is retiring early in latest Trump military shake-up

Air Force’s top uniformed officer is retiring early in latest Trump military shake-up

This conversation is being recorded: Trump’s hot mic moment is the latest in a long global list

This conversation is being recorded: Trump’s hot mic moment is the latest in a long global list

No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Penn St each place 3 players on Associated Press preseason All-America first team

No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Penn St each place 3 players on Associated Press preseason All-America first team

Joe Burrow directs two touchdown drives, Bengals outlast Jayden Daniels’ Commanders for 31-17 win

Joe Burrow directs two touchdown drives, Bengals outlast Jayden Daniels’ Commanders for 31-17 win

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • tiktok
Editor: Nur M Tofader, Home Office: 250 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10177 Tell: 718 893 0002 (Office), 7188441300, +1212 401 6266, e-mail: Info@millenniuamtv24.com, e-mail: Info@millenniuamnews24.com, Copyright © Millennium News 24/7 | DarkNews by AF themes.