Question: Endangered

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paws4eva

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I was reading about axolotls in the wild on the Internet and was wondering about the following things.

If axolotls are critically endangered in the wild but realy common in captivity why dont they release some of the captive ones into the wild?

Are there any official organisations or charities specifically devoted to saving the axolotl?

What can the individual do to help save the axolotl? (example: you save old growth tree forests by using recycled paper)
 
paws4eva said:
I was reading about axolotls in the wild on the Internet and was wondering about the following things.

If axolotls are critically endangered in the wild but realy common in captivity why dont they release some of the captive ones into the wild?

Are there any official organisations or charities specifically devoted to saving the axolotl?

What can the individual do to help save the axolotl? (example: you save old growth tree forests by using recycled paper)
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1. It's ethically wrong, especially considering those in the pet trade have been exposed to all sorts of things, as well as bred with tiger salamanders at some point. Putting animals we've messed with back in the wild is just asking for trouble. Our axolotls and wild axolotls are already so different, it's like putting a different animal out there, and exposing other local populations to diseases like Chytrid. You wouldn't release a dog to a pack of wolves, would you?

While captive colonies of axolotls exist across Mexico, the US, Canada, Germany, the UK and Japan, reintroducing these animals would be a bad idea, say the scientists.


"Reintroduction is not a good idea because it reduces the genetic variability and increases the chances of chytrdiomicosis disease," says Dr Zambrano.


Chytrdiomicosis is an often fatal condition caused by the chytrid fungus, which is decimating amphibian populations around the world.


Dr Zambrano's team are now embarking on a programme to create wild refuges for the Mexican axolotl, in a bid to arrest the decline in its numbers and prevent it going extinct in the wild.
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2. There are organizations and projects in Mexico already. There is a lab in Mexico that is breeding them and releasing them (under different conditions than those kept as pets - it's an entirely different method), but I can't recall the name. It can be found online.

Luis Zambrano | The Leopold Leadership Program

3. There isn't really anything you can do, except maybe donate to conservation efforts. It's an introduced predator that shifted the trophic levels, as well as the depletion of their environment.
 
The reason axolotls are so critically endangered is because their habitat is practically gone. Their native lakes have been reduced to muddy canals filled with predatory fish, people, and their trash.

There's no where into which to put them.
 
I agree with the above... Golden Mantella (M.aurantiaca) are Critically Endangered aswell however they are found quite commonly in the pet trade, yet nearly most of their habitat is gone in Madagascar, its the same with most species you simply can't just rehabilitate a species even if it is close to extinction because most of these species are in decline for that very reason, they have no where to go/or soon to have no where to go.
Same again with the Chinese Giant Salamander (A.davidianus), Critically Endangered species and bred quite widely for the Food Business where they sell for either TCM or commonly as a Delicacy however you can't rehabilitate them for that same reason but also because of Pollution and also the fact they will simply be caught by someone else again only to be sold into the Food Trade again..
Another good example is the Darwin's Frog (R.darwinii) they are currently removing all individuals from the wild because of natural habitat loss, these animals probably wont even get to see the wild again.


I am something of a nut when it comes to conservation, I believe in trying to save species from becoming extinct and hope to try and help many species out one day. However these things are still going to happen regardless of how much work you do for Conserving things such as habitats. Madagascar is a prime example as nearly all of the forest is gone and replaced for them Palm trees that are used for Palm oil which funnily enough one of the uses for this oil is for Eco Friendly fuels (Pretty contradictory eh?), think its also the same in some parts of Indonesia. They are replanting tree in parts of Madagascar however it would be too late by the time its all grown up as the species would of been without a habitat for some time lol That doesnt mean that we shouldn't try, but somethings will happen anyway which is the sad truth that i think no one wishes to face.
 
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Another great example is the Kihansi spray toad. They went completely extinct in the wild. Gone.

There were less than 200 individuals left. Luckily, they breed well in captivity, and the Tanzanian government realized the error of their ways before it was too late. Their habitat has been partially restored, and some of the animals have been re-released into the wild.
 
Today all Chatham Island Black Robins descent from one female (Old Blue) as in 1980 there were only 5 left. Now there are 250.

Nothing to do with axolotls, but nothing like a conservation success story:D
 
Those are both great success stories if I'm honest. Another on going conservation story is the Kakapo (Strigops habroptila) which once roamed New Zealand wilds in their thousands however after the British and Dutch colonialists came to the islands of mainland New Zealand, they brought invasive predators that the Kakapo couldn't cope with, as it is after all a Fat, Nocturnal, Flightless Parrot which likes to perform Mimicry (playing dead) when under attack.
The last remaining individuals were moved to off coast islands that were cleared of all introduced predators and they are slowly but surely having numbers rise. They currently number a little bit less than 150 and may never be able to be reintroduced back into the wild again. Funnily enough, another species that is classified as Critically Endangered, personally I think they are more suited for the category of Extinct in the Wild.

One particular individual Kakapo was made famous by the BBC's documentary series "Last Chance to See" who is called Sirocco which tried to mate with the Zoologist, Mark Cowardine's head. lmao In all honesty, most of New Zealands Birds are in decline.
 
"Last Chance To See" is one of my favourite wildlife documentary series. And the Sirocco episode is my favourite :D
 
I've never cried soooooo hard as I did watching the bird hump that mans head!
:D must see TV!! lmfao :')



<3 >o_o< <3
 
Nikki71 said:
I've never cried soooooo hard as I did watching the bird hump that mans head!
:D must see TV!! lmfao :')



<3 >o_o< <3
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I laughed so hard that tears streamed out of my eyes and my glasses fogged up :p
 
I've been pooped on by endangered species, but never humped. I have to say, as a biologist, I'm a little jealous.
 
Thank you Kaysie for posting that! :D
It's been way too long since I'd seen it, thanks to you I think I just woke up the neighbourhood & I even snorted :eek:

With all that feathered rough housing I thought of a new best selling novel...
"Fifty Shades of Green" :D lol



<3 >o_o< <3
 
They definitely have an interesting way of wooing their mate.

Let me know when you publish that; I'd buy it!
 
Lmao funnily enough I watched this episode the other night and had a good chuckle! :L

I did want to do the 2 weeks voluntary on one of the island 3 years ago but it costs a lot of money :(
 
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