This article was originally written by Ed Chatterton for SWNS — the U.K.’s largest independent news agency, providing globally relevant original, verified, and engaging content to the world’s leading media outlets.
A member of the internet’s favorite salamander species wound up quite far from its natural habitat, but was lucky enough to be discovered by a curious kiddo who’s now rehabbing the injured creature. Evie Hill, a 10-year-old from Leicester, England, found a critically endangered Mexican axolotl under a bridge in South Wales — the first discovery of its kind in the U.K.
Evie had been playing by the River Ogmore in Bridgend during a family vacation when she made the incredible find on April 10. The youngster spotted the 9-inch salamander nestled in the rocks after she lifted up a discarded mat. She then rushed to tell her mother, Melanie Hill, who was initially dubious her daughter had found an actual axolotl, believing it was more likely to be a newt or a snake.
In the wild, the exotic amphibians only remain in a single lake in Mexico City, but due to their popularity as aquarium pets (boosted by appearances in video games and on social media) they are widespread in homes around the world.
“Evie loves nature, so she went off paddling and playing down by the river,” Hill, 50, told SWNS, adding: “She rather excitedly came running back up saying she’d seen an axolotl, and I quite simply told her ‘no you haven’t.’”
The preteen, however, was certain. “I ran up to my mum shouting ‘I’ve found an axolotl, I’ve found an axolotl,’” Evie said, adding: “I knew what it was straight away because I saw its gills. I have seen them on YouTube on Minecraft videos and other videos showing how to look after them.”
Her mother warned her not to go back in the water, but when Evie spotted the little animal once again, she opted to ask for forgiveness instead of permission. “I jumped in and caught it with my hands,” Evie shared. “I went back to my mum and said, ‘I’m sorry I broke the rules but look I’ve caught the axolotl.’”
In doing so, she likely saved its life, Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, told The Guardian, noting that Evie did the axolotl “a real favor.”
The family placed the little guy in a gravy boat before driving to the store to buy a suitable container. They’d been traveling around Wales in their campervan, so the axolotl spent a night with them on wheels.
The next day, they contacted a local breeder as the creature had damage to its tail and stomach. After getting advice on how to care for it, the Hills cut their holiday short to take the axolotl back to their home in Leicester. The fifth grader named their new family member Dippy D. “Dippy after the bridge where it was found and D for dragon as it is our Welsh Dragon,” Hill said, adding that “Evie is delighted with her new pet, they are such amazing creatures.”
Axolotls have remarkable regenerative abilities; they can regrow tissue and parts of their bodies. Because the species doesn’t go through metamorphosis like other salamanders, its appearance remains similar to that of a tadpole, accounting for its “cute” features.
“We spent hours doing our research on how best to keep it healthy and we have no regrets on bringing it home,” Hill said. The family also plans to transfer Dippy to a “much bigger tank” once they get it set up.
Meanwhile, Evie — who frequently finds bugs and other small critters — is enjoying showing off Dippy D to her classmates. “My friends at school think it’s really cool,” she said.
Experts say it’s the first documented discovery of an axolotl in the wild in the U.K., with only 50 to 1,000 individuals left globally.
Newman told the BBC Evie must have “a keen eye,” adding: “I think she did remarkably to find him. [Catching them] is no mean feat — they’re quite slippery, so I think she did really well.”
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