Edinburgh Zoo Edinburgh Zoo news 2024

Two critically endangered cotton-top tamarins have been born at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo to first-time mum Elf and dad Zecca on Tuesday 4 June. Keepers at the wildlife conservation charity have named the tiny newborn monkeys ‘Taylor’ and ‘Swift’ ahead of the pop star’s highly anticipated performances in the capital this weekend:

Taylor Swift arrives at Edinburgh Zoo
 
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I don't assume Edinburgh has axolotl anymore?
I recall in 2016 they had one in one of the terrariums in what is now the sloth-house
 

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Rohin said:
Were the terrariums part of a reptile house?
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From what I recall it was not a reptile house per se. [if there were any reptiles anyhow] It was a house of several different smaller animals - from photographs there there were leafcutter ants, figure eight pufferfish, archerfish, mudskipper, and the axolotl.
It was before the entrance into the walk-through aviary which was since converted to sloth house.
 
dillotest0 said:
From what I recall it was not a reptile house per se. [if there were any reptiles anyhow] It was a house of several different smaller animals - from photographs there there were leafcutter ants, figure eight pufferfish, archerfish, mudskipper, and the axolotl.
It was before the entrance into the walk-through aviary which was since converted to sloth house.
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I do miss that little area, the leafcutter ants and archerfish in particular. I wonder if it's possible for one of the terrariums in Wee Beasties to be converted into a tank for the axolotl? That would be nice.
 
Jambi said:
I do miss that little area, the leafcutter ants and archerfish in particular. I wonder if it's possible for one of the terrariums in Wee Beasties to be converted into a tank for the axolotl? That would be nice.
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There was an axolotl tank in Wee Beasties, next to the reef tank if memory services. However my last visit to Edinburgh Zoo was 2021 so this may have changed.
 
Dylan said:
There was an axolotl tank in Wee Beasties, next to the reef tank if memory services. However my last visit to Edinburgh Zoo was 2021 so this may have changed.
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There wasn't one in there during my last visit in early 2023, and as far as I remember the vivarium next to the reef tank was empty. It would be nice if the axolotl went back on show at some point.
 
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Dylan said:
There was an axolotl tank in Wee Beasties, next to the reef tank if memory services. However my last visit to Edinburgh Zoo was 2021 so this may have changed.
Click to expand...
All axolotls in zoos, in private hands and with afficionados elsewhere are genetic mutant and hybrids (bred specifically for the albinism and having accidentally / purposefully interbred with another closely related Ambystoma species ....), and nothing likel the real deal species that is critically endangered in Lake XochImilco...!!!!


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
I wish that zoos ex situ would get involved with the initiative by Professor of Zoology Luis Zambrano from the National Autonomous University of Mexico for restoration work on the Lake and with a focus on conserving the axolotl. working hard to protect and conserve the axolotl in situ and with an ex situ component at the University.

The Professor started researchins the species ever since the early 1990's and the pure-bred native axolotl captive stocks date from a collection from the Lake Xochimilco from that timeframe. Where it had started as a lone private affair by the Professor it has been transformed into a much greater conservation effort with both socio-economic and cultural aspects to the endeavour.

He is assisted in this endeavour by a civil society organisation Preservacf A.C. led by Óscar Camacho Flores which through environmental protection activist work, socio-economic and indigeneous rights' campaigns and the release of pure-bred and native axolotls from into the Lake from the captive-breeding efforts is working to restore the species and local indigeneous communities' rights and access to the Lake and clean water.

Rather poignant is this quote from a local chinampero about the indigeneous communities' deep and ancient connections to the Lake, the chinampa artisanale agricultural system and its ambassador species, the amphibian axolotl Ambystoma mexicam:
QUOTE
"For us, the Xochimilcas—who have deep roots regarding the axolotl—they are our ally, allowing us to also restore our agricultural activities while restoring the great Anahuác for future generations."
UNQOUTE


Links:
A) Protecting Mexico’s Iconic Salamander Means Saving one of the Country’s Most Important Wetlands - Inside Climate News
B) Rewilding the Axolotl | Atmos
C) https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/16/...endangered-conservation-mexico-scn/index.html
D) Axolotls and Chinampas in Xochimilco: Nature & Conservation Experience
 
Kifaru Bwana said:
All axolotls in zoos, in private hands and with afficionados elsewhere are genetic mutant and hybrids (bred specifically for the albinism and having accidentally / purposefully interbred with another closely related Ambystoma species ....), and nothing likel the real deal species that is critically endangered in Lake XochImilco...!!!!


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
I wish that zoos ex situ would get involved with the initiative by Professor of Zoology Luis Zambrano from the National Autonomous University of Mexico for restoration work on the Lake and with a focus on conserving the axolotl. working hard to protect and conserve the axolotl in situ and with an ex situ component at the University.

The Professor started researchins the species ever since the early 1990's and the pure-bred native axolotl captive stocks date from a collection from the Lake Xochimilco from that timeframe. Where it had started as a lone private affair by the Professor it has been transformed into a much greater conservation effort with both socio-economic and cultural aspects to the endeavour.

He is assisted in this endeavour by a civil society organisation Preservacf A.C. led by Óscar Camacho Flores which through environmental protection activist work, socio-economic and indigeneous rights' campaigns and the release of pure-bred and native axolotls from into the Lake from the captive-breeding efforts is working to restore the species and local indigeneous communities' rights and access to the Lake and clean water.

Rather poignant is this quote from a local chinampero about the indigeneous communities' deep and ancient connections to the Lake, the chinampa artisanale agricultural system and its ambassador species, the amphibian axolotl Ambystoma mexicam:
QUOTE
"For us, the Xochimilcas—who have deep roots regarding the axolotl—they are our ally, allowing us to also restore our agricultural activities while restoring the great Anahuác for future generations."
UNQOUTE


Links:
A) Protecting Mexico’s Iconic Salamander Means Saving one of the Country’s Most Important Wetlands - Inside Climate News
B) Rewilding the Axolotl | Atmos
C) https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/16/...endangered-conservation-mexico-scn/index.html
D) Axolotls and Chinampas in Xochimilco: Nature & Conservation Experience
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This I think has truth. Most axolotls in human care are genetically impure.
But I would contest that the 'domestic-axolotl' is not at all axolotl ... at least, with regards to natural brown morphs they certainly look as expected of axolotls, behave as expected of axolotls ... and I do say that may not be as much for manufactured morphs. And as such I have little aversion to zoos displaying the natural brown variety of the axolotl. I recall there's one picture of the axolotls they had from my visit to London Zoo in 2016 that has lived in my head as the image of the axolotl ... if it weren't for that day I can only imagine I would still think they were predominantly pink species now! If zoos can keep rabbits, guinea pigs and degus within reasonable context I don't see why there should be aversion to axolotl then.
The Lake Patzcuaro Salamander I suppose would be better option, as captive individuals of that species are not as genetically-diluted as axolotl ... but if only it were easier to come by !
In that regard then I think if a zoo works with axolotl beforehand it goes to good experience for taking care of this salamander which also needs help and awareness.
But I digress !
 
dillotest0 said:
But I would contest that the 'domestic-axolotl' is not at all axolotl ... at least, with regards to natural brown morphs they certainly look as expected of axolotls, behave as expected of axolotls ... and I do say that may not be as much for manufactured morphs. And as such I have little aversion to zoos displaying the natural brown variety of the axolotl. I recall there's one picture of the axolotls they had from my visit to London Zoo in 2016 that has lived in my head as the image of the axolotl ... if it weren't for that day I can only imagine I would still think they were predominantly pink species now! If zoos can keep rabbits, guinea pigs and degus within reasonable context I don't see why there should be aversion to axolotl then.
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Though saying that I think a revitalisation of this species' programme with a focus on wild-type individuals [new imports?] would be good.
But without a proper wild place to put them I can see why there is hesitation ... Xochimilco's seen better days!
 
Jambi said:
There wasn't one in there during my last visit in early 2023, and as far as I remember the vivarium next to the reef tank was empty. It would be nice if the axolotl went back on show at some point.
Click to expand...
The reef tanks were empty when I visited in February 2024.
 
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