Axolotls are adorable sea creatures hidden within the depths of lakes and rivers. However, their numbers are dwindling, and there are approximately 1,000 of them left in the wild.
Mexico’s National Autonomous University came up with an attempt for a solution: Virtual Axolotl Adoption, also known as “Adoptaxolotl.”
According to National Geographic, “Named after the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, the axolotl has been an important symbol of Mexican culture for centuries.”
The university’s main goal with this campaign is to stop these creatures from going extinct. This has proven to be more difficult than anticipated, however, as the number of axolotls has progressively decreased throughout the years. For example, in the year 2019 a study found there had actually been less than 1,000 on the planet. This was a significant decrease considering the approximate 6,000 that were on the planet two decades ago.
Armando Castillo, moderator of the Latino Unidos at Riordan, said, “I think it’s good, but there could be a dark side to it. By plastering the animals all over the place, they put them in more danger.”
Axolotls became an internet phenomenon in 2021 after the video game Minecraft added them into the game. Ever since then, people have been obsessed with the sea dwellers, causing pet stores around the globe to start releasing them in high demand, leading to the continuing decline of the axolotl population.
NAU’s goal is simple, yet challenging. Their campaign allows people to virtually adopt an axolotl, allowing them to name the creature and receive a certificate of adoption. They also allow them to pay for an axolotl’s meals and habitats.
Axolotls may be entertaining and adorable, but they are also essential for improving water quality. Along with being able to stay young by regenerating tissue at an alarming rate, axolotls are a biological wonder.
The campaign has largely been successful, with people all over the globe volunteering to help save the endangered species. For as little as 600 pesos, (roughly $35) people can virtually adopt the animals. The campaign has raised nearly $30,000 since reopening, enough to house 40 refuges. However, the job is not finished.
According to Luis Zambrano, who was involved in the campaign, they will need about 10 times that amount to get axolotls back to a stable population.
Apparently, the biggest threat to axolotls isn’t even animal predators. It’s humans.
Castillo had some thoughts on the topic. “I wouldn’t make it so public,” said Castillo. “I would’ve kept it in the U.S or southern Mexico, but not all of Mexico.”
With people constantly draining nature for its resources, axolotl populations have dropped at an alarming rate, with other fish like carp eating axolotl eggs and competing for resources. This is why the campaign’s refuges are crucial for axolotls, according to Zambrano.
Castillo said, “I hope they use the money they gather to buy more land for them.”
