Japari Park, Lucky-san (Gokoku Area)

The axolotl is an endemic species that only lives in the remains of Lake Xochimilco in Mexico and its surroundings. The axolotl is an unusual species of salamander, in that they reach sexual maturity while still in their larva stage. Because of that, they never switch to lung breathing and live underwater with large external gills. Furthermore, as a larva, they have high regenerative ability and can recover lost body parts. For that reason, the Aztecs likened them to their god of death and resurrection and worshiped them. Since the fall of the Aztec civilization, urbanization by land reclamation has been reducing their habitat. In recent years, water pollution and the introduction of invasive species, as well as the expansion of urban areas, has caused them to disappear rapidly and they are now on the verge of extinction in the wild. Some say they might go extinct as early as 2020.