Evie Hill, 10, was playing near Dipping Bridge on the River Ogmore near Bridgend, south Wales, when she spotted a pale, 9-inch-long creature with gills on its head. According to BBC News, Evie described going down to the bank and seeing the axolotl, which she caught and brought back to her mother. The axolotl had injuries to its tail and stomach, multiple reports said. The family named it Dippy after the bridge where it was found.
The discovery is believed to be the first documented axolotl found in the wild in the UK, according to BBC News. Wild axolotls are found only in Lake Xochimilco near Mexico City and are critically endangered, with experts estimating only 50 to 1,000 individuals remaining globally. The species has become popular as pets, partly due to appearances in video games like Minecraft and Roblox and on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, multiple reports said.
I've been telling Evie all this time that those creatures she watches on YouTube, they're not real. Here I am with one in my kitchen.
The RSPCA expressed concern that axolotls are becoming more popular among children but are difficult to care for. Dr Ros Clubb, an RSPCA spokesperson, said in an official statement that many young axolotls and their eggs are being advertised for sale online, and the organization fears they are becoming more popular amongst children. She added that axolotls are not easy pets to keep and buying any animal should never be an impulse buy. It is illegal to release axolotls into the wild in the UK, according to major media reports.
The family cut their holiday short to take the axolotl home to Leicester, according to major media reports. According to BBC News, Melanie Hill, Evie's mother, described having told Evie that the creatures she watches on YouTube are not real, only to find one in her kitchen. Chris Newman, director of the National Centre for Reptile Welfare, said Evie probably saved Dippy's life, according to major media reports. According to experts, axolotls can reach 12 inches in length but on average grow to about 9 inches. They have regenerative powers and can regrow tissue, including a new spinal cord within a new tail, experts said. Pet care websites note that axolotls require a cool water temperature between 16C and 18C and can live for more than 10 years with proper care. According to BBC News, Evie described how everybody at school is fascinated about the story of Dippy.
How the axolotl ended up in the River Ogmore remains unclear, and it is unknown whether it was abandoned by a pet owner. The current health status of Dippy has not been disclosed, and it is not known what specific injuries it sustained or how it is being treated. Authorities have not commented on whether they will investigate the illegal release.