Hope For The Axolotl

My parents always liked finding things to do that were active, or at least away from our T.V. set. So we would go to a park in Xochimilco. It had an amazing array of plant life, the wonderful chinampas on the lake, and pathways for bikes and skateboards to pass through. The place also had a little museum, to educate people on the importance of Xochimilco's biosphere. They also had a tank to show the famous Axolotl. And yet, not a single year did I see an Axolotl in that tank. The only time I saw one, he looked skinny and sickly. Not the regular cute pink they should be. I came in the following month and the tank was empty again. That's why it brings me so much joy when I hear that people have Axolotls as pets. Is it good to keep them away from their habitat? No. But it is a way to conserve an important Mexican species. At least until the waters of Xochimilco are clean for them to swim again.