Axolotl conservation in the Xochimilco wetland

The rainy season in Xochimilco, Mexico, has come to an end. This year, rainfall was significantly higher than in previous years, which helped to replenish the water reserves of Mexico City and central Mexico. Xochimilco was no exception, its wetland is now thriving with life. Thanks to these favorable conditions, our conservation work has become a bit easier, as we can operate more frequently in the field.

However, the rehabilitation process also faces new challenges. The abundant rainfall accelerated the growth of invasive aquatic plant species, which have spread rapidly and now cover large portions of the water channels. Over the next few weeks, one of our main tasks will be to remove these invasive plants to restore the natural flow and balance of the ecosystem.

Meanwhile, at our Conservation Center, the new axolotl shelter is finally ready! Within this facility, we have established three ponds designed to simulate natural wetland conditions while maintaining controlled parameters such as temperature, native plant composition, and water quality. Each pond houses a separate axolotl population in confined spaces to ensure safe adaptation. This marks the first stage of a larger rehabilitation strategy, helping axolotls gradually adapt to the environmental conditions they will later face in the restored wetland.

Over the past few months, more than ten volunteer groups have joined our efforts, assisting in the construction and maintenance of these ponds. In parallel, we are building six additional tanks dedicated exclusively to the reproduction of native aquatic plants. These plants will later be reintroduced into their natural habitat to counteract the spread of invasive species. Among them, the Mexican water lily (Nymphaea mexicana) stands out as one of the most emblematic native species of Xochimilco.

This project represents a vital step in the long-term restoration of Xochimilco’s wetlands, a unique ecosystem that sustains biodiversity, local communities, and the cultural heritage of Mexico City. Through the combined efforts of our team and the volunteers who join us each week, we are not only protecting the habitat of the axolotl but also rebuilding the ecological balance that this landscape depends on. Each pond, each native plant, and each restored canal brings us closer to ensuring that future generations can continue to witness the extraordinary natural and cultural value of Xochimilco.

We want to thank to the many people, groups and institutions that support these activities, volunteers and donors, because we have had a lot of progress towards our goals this year. 

Greetings!

It's the rainy season in Xochimilco, Mexico, and it has rained a lot! Much more than in recent years, which is great news for Mexico City's bodies of water, including the Xochimilco wetland and, of course, the axolotl.

The heavy and consistent rainfall has also helped regulate the high summer temperatures we usually experience, which benefits the axolotls as well. Our axolotls have shown significantly less stress and hardly any of the health issues typically caused by heat.

The warehouse we built last quarter has proven extremely useful for safely storing our tools and tanks, especially during the rainy days.

It's harder to work directly in the wetland when it rains, but we have installed some filters in the natural ponds that we dug in the prior months, the ponds are stablishing well and we hope we can have axolotls and some other native species here. We've focused more our efforts on improving our conservation center. The new tanks are now better adapted to the needs of the axolotls and more welcoming for visitors. We've also built shaded shelters over tanks housing baby and adult axolotls, using only sustainable materials. This has been a labor-intensive task, as we’ve had to treat and process raw materials ourselves, and the shelters are large in size. Fortunately, with the help of volunteers, partner groups, and generous donors, we’re now close to completing this important work.

In conclusion, this rainy season has brought more than just water, it has brought renewed energy and progress to our conservation efforts. We're grateful for the support that allows us to keep improving the conditions for these incredible creatures and the wetland they call home.