Christmas has become increasingly expensive in today’s economy, with consumers often switching to plastic alternatives to save money and convenience. However, these convenient purchases come with hidden costs. Many of these plastic products end up polluting the environment during manufacturing and transportation, only to end up in landfills after a new option replaces them.
Hard plastic Christmas decorations such as angels, Santa Claus and other iconic Christmas figures initially became popular in the 1950s because they were often easy to find, durable and relatively inexpensive. Fast forward to today and not much has changed, plastic rules the holiday season. Plastic Christmas decorations seem to be inevitable in the big holiday schedule, but here are a few small changes you can make to help create a big impact in reducing plastic waste.
How can we save the axolotls?
“The first consideration is that we cannot save wild axolotls without restoring their habitat. Therefore, to protect axolotls in the wild – before thinking about reintroductions – it is necessary to restore the wetland. All attempts to introduce axolotls have failed for this reason,” says Zambrano González. “We are working to restore the habitat, which is intrinsically linked to pre-Columbian culture. For this reason and others, such as the reduction of genetic diversity and introduction of axolotl disease, it is not advisable to generate a captive reintroduction program.”
According to research by Zambrano González and others, the crucial first step in developing refuges for axolotls is to improve water quality. This change would be beneficial for native species such as the axolotl, but would also be better for crops, making it an attractive option for farmers.
Are Axolotls real?
You can be forgiven for thinking that axolotls are something created by meme enthusiasts. However, axolotls are completely real.
They are found in the wild in Mexico City (more info below) and are sold as pets internationally.
Where are Axolotls found in nature?
As mentioned above, axolotls are found exclusively in the Lake Xochimilco complex near Mexico City, which includes Lake Xochimilco and a series of artificial canals and waterways that criss-cross the Mexican capital. The axolotls, being neotenic, have adapted well to their natural habitat, this being a high altitude region with an average water temperature of around 20°C, even during the winter months.
Axolotls have been, for many centuries, an important part of Mexican culture. According to local mythology, the creature is the incarnation of an Aztec god who disguised himself as a salamander to avoid sacrifice. Sadly, they are also seen as a delicacy in Mexico City, with overfishing contributing to their appearance on the endangered species list.