Scientists have found that the odd, always smiling Mexican axolotl, one of the most endangered amphibians in the world, has flourished after being released in artificial wetlands.
Researchers released 18 captive-bred axolotls in a repaired and artificial wetland in Mexico City, offering hope for the long-term survival of a species that was driven to the verge of extinction.
After installing radio trackers on the animals, the researchers discovered that they “survived and foraged successfully at both sites”—even putting on weight.
This was a “amazing result,” according to lead researcher Dr. Alejandra Ramos of the Autonomous University of Baja California.
