Mexico City embraces axolotl mascot as conservationists fight to save species
As Mexico City hosts Mexico’s match against Ecuador, the axolotl has become the unofficial mascot of the tournament — appearing on streets, trains, and even currency. Despite the fanfare, the amphibian is critically endangered in the wild. Axolotls are native only to southern Mexico City’s wetlands, where urban growth and invasive fish have wiped out more than 99 percent of their population.