Salamander of the Gods: From Aztecs to Axolotls | Wild Hope

The axolotl is an amphibian with incredible regenerative abilities. It lives in only one place outside captivity: Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City. Scientists are working with local farmers to reconstruct a system of chinampas, or island gardens, pioneered by the Aztecs—to restore the axolotl’s habitat. To the west, another team is working to save a closely related salamander species by teaming up with Dominican nuns who have raised the creatures in captivity for well over a century. The unusual alliances show that saving species can be as much about culture and heritage as it is about science.

NOTE: The videos and closed captions are also available in Spanish.