• GluWu@lemm.ee
    3·
    10 months ago

    They’re critically endangered and will be extinct very soon in the wild. There are millions in captivity. Scientists have been using them for experiments for a long time, and they’ve become popular pets even before mine craft added them because they’re very low maintenance.

    A lot of conservationists despise people having exotic pets. This hasn’t been the first and won’t be the last animal that were the last of their species exist in captivity. Maybe we should take the hint and realize we need to be more proactive.

    • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.ml
      41·
      10 months ago

      I don’t understand people who are against caring for axies in captivity. They’re going to be gone soon they only live in one lake in Mexico that’s getting built over. At this point it is either total extinction or captivity that ship has sailed. They’re also a really good teaching moment about conservation. When people see my axies I’ll usually tell them about the situation they’re in and people look so hurt that we’d ruin their habitat like that. Most extinct animals you only hear about. These little critters are common enough you can show them to people and really get the point across what we’ve lost

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      10 months ago

      A lot of conservationists despise people having exotic pets. This hasn’t been the first and won’t be the last animal that were the last of their species exist in captivity.

      Would they rather the species just completely vanish from the face of the earth? At least they’ll live on in captivity, where they thrive.

      • wafflez@lemmy.world
        2·
        10 months ago

        Say that to cows and chickens who can’t survive in the wild because of how we bred them. Having your species “live on” through captivity isn’t a great thing. Humans tend to prioritize human enjoyment strongly over animal wellbeing

  • Zink@programming.dev
    2·
    10 months ago

    Well, I have a 7 year old who loves Minecraft, and we now have an axolotl.

    They are both fascinating and funny critters.

  • credit crazy@lemmy.world
    2·
    10 months ago

    In the year 2040 axolotls have been deemed so adorable that they have become as common a pet as cats and dogs combined and are now facing over population because there’s no better evolution strategy than being considered cute by humans

    • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.ml
      1·
      10 months ago

      I’d say there is one better way: being a staple food for humans

      Also I’ve got two axies they’re the dumbest animals I’ve ever seen like I’ve taken care of bugs who have more going on in their heads. Most cheeses can process their surroundings better than an axie can. Definitely cute though and surprisingly easy to take care of

  • underisk@lemmy.ml
    2·
    10 months ago

    Im sure everyone has heard this by now but its my favorite thing about them: Axolotls evolved from a salamander that mutated to stay in its juvenile form permanently. You can (but shouldn’t) induce metamorphosis in them chemically (or occasionally, environmentally) and they will transform into a vestigial adult form.