Axolotl conservation in the Xochimilco wetland

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.