Today, we’re diving into one of the most iconic and critically endangered species in the world: the axolotl.

These amphibians, native only to Mexico’s Lake Xochimilco, are facing increasing threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. But today, we’ll be exploring an innovative and hopeful approach: combining restored native wetlands and artificial habitats to help bring axolotls back from the brink.

To help us unpack this, I’m joined by Dr. Alejandra Ramos, an ecologist and conservation scientist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico whose research bridges restoration ecology, amphibian behavior, and environmental sustainability. Her latest paper, published in PLOS ONE, explores how captive-bred axolotls respond to different wetland habitats — and what that means for the future of species reintroduction programs.