10-Year-old rescues endangered Mexican Axolotl from Welsh river
ETimes April 24, 2026 03:39 AM
The quiet banks of the River Ogmore in Wales recently became the scene of a discovery. While exploring the water under the " Dipping Bridge " in Merthyr Mawr 10-year-old Evie Hill found a nine-inch Mexican axolotl . This endangered amphibian does not normally live in the wild in the UK.
Evie’s mom, Melanie was surprised to see it. She had told her daughter that the strange creatures she saw on YouTube and Minecraft were not real. But they were, driving a live axolotl back to their home in Leicester. Experts think there are a few hundred of these "walking fish" left in their native Mexico. This is the time one has been found in British waters.
The creature, named "Dippy" after the bridge was hurt when Evie found it under a discarded mat. It had damage to its stomach and tail. Chris Newman from the National Centre for Reptile Welfare said Evie’s quick thinking probably saved the animal’s life. It was likely an abandoned pet that would not have survived in the Welsh wild.
More people are buying axolotls as pets because of games like Roblox.. The RSPCA warns that they are hard to care for. They need water temperatures and food. This leads to people buying them on impulse. Then releasing them into local rivers when they cannot care for them anymore. This is bad for the animal and the local ecosystem.
The Hill family cut their camper van holiday short to help Dippy. They are now taking care of it. Setting up a big new tank. They did not plan to bring an endangered species home. They do not regret rescuing it. Evie is now famous at school for her discovery.
Axolotls are doing well in labs and home aquariums.. They are in danger of becoming extinct in the wild in Mexico because of urban sprawl. Experts use Dippy’s story to remind people: never release -native species into the wild. If you find a pet or cannot care for it contact organizations, like the NCRW. Do not leave it to fend for itself.
