In a study conducted in 1998 you could find 6,000 axolotl per square kilometre in Xochimilco, which is located in south Mexico city. In 2008 you could find 100. Currently, due to invasive predators and pollution you can find less than 35. The axolotls are on the brink of extinction in the canals of Mexico City, which is their only natural habitat. However, in aquariums and science labs across the world thousands more can be found. Also in Japan axolotls are constantly bred to be served deep-fried in restaurants. All that remains of the axolotl’s habitat in Xochimilco are about 170 kilometres of criss-crossing canals.
Questions:
- How can we save the axolotls?
- Can they be moved to a different habitat?
- Should eating them be extinct?