"Mexico's 'Adopt an Axolotl' Campaign Fights Pollution and Trout Threat"

Ecologists in Mexico have relaunched the "Adoptaxolotl" campaign to raise funds for the conservation of axolotls, an endangered species of salamander. The campaign allows people to virtually adopt an axolotl and receive live updates on its health. The population density of Mexican axolotls has declined by 99.5% in under two decades due to water pollution, a deadly amphibian fungus, and non-native rainbow trout. Despite their popularity, almost all 18 species of axolotl in Mexico remain critically endangered. The lack of data on their numbers and distribution makes it difficult to prioritize conservation efforts. The Mexican government has recently approved funding cuts for its environment department, further hindering conservation efforts.