Arabic version: فتاة في العاشرة من عمرها تجد أكسولوتل مهدد بالانقراض في ويلز

A nature-loving 10-year-old girl has made an extraordinary discovery while playing near the River Ogmore in Bridgend, Wales. Evie Hill found a nine-inch Mexican axolotl under a bridge, leaving her mother, Melanie, in “shock, surprise and disbelief”. According to BBC News, this is the first documented discovery of an axolotl in the wild in the UK, a species that is critically endangered with only 50 to 1,000 individuals remaining globally.

Evie spotted the pale axolotl while lifting a discarded mat in the river shallows. She immediately recognized it as something special, even noting that the creature had injuries on its tail and stomach. The family was touring Wales in a camper van and had planned to explore the beautiful area when Evie’s find changed the course of their day.

The family decided to cut their holiday short and bring the axolotl, which they named Dippy, back to their home in Leicester. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, stated that Evie probably saved Dippy’s life by discovering it. The family has since researched how to properly care for the axolotl and plans to set up a larger tank for it.

Evie’s school friends are fascinated by her new pet, and she is excited to share the story of her remarkable find. The popularity of axolotls as pets has surged recently, partly due to their appearances in video games like Minecraft and Roblox. However, experts warn that many people underestimate the care required for these amphibians.

The axolotl population has drastically declined due to urban expansion and habitat loss in Mexico, where they were once abundant. In captivity, they thrive and are often kept as pets or featured in zoos. The discovery of Dippy highlights the importance of reporting sightings of endangered species to appropriate authorities, as noted by Chris Newman, who emphasized the uniqueness of Evie’s find.