Tumble Science Podcast for Kids · Tumble Media

The Wild Axolotl - And Tumble en Español is Coming Back!

September 19, 2025·30 min·2 clips

Axolotls can regrow lost limbs in just 15 days, a trait that fascinated 19th-century European explorers.

This episode of Tumble Science Podcast for Kids is about the endangered axolotl and the efforts to save it in the wild. Hosts Lindsay and Marshall explore this topic prompted by a question from a young listener in Mexico City. The episode features veterinarian Horacio Mena, who studies and cares for axolotls in their only natural habitat, the Xochimilco wetlands near Mexico City. Axolotls are amphibians known for their regenerative abilities, able to regrow a lost limb in about 15 days. Their name originates from Aztec mythology, where the god Xolotl transformed into a salamander. European explorers brought axolotls from Mexico in the 19th century, and scientists estimate over one million now live in captivity worldwide. In Xochimilco, axolotl populations have plummeted from about 6,000 per square kilometer to just 35. Three major threats are urban growth drying the wetlands, introduced carp and tilapia fish that compete with axolotls, and water pollution from the city. A surprising insight is that Horacio first saw an axolotl in a fish tank as a child, not in the wild. He compares the Aztec gods to Marvel's Thor and Loki to explain the creature's mythological origin. His team is creating protected refuges by digging ditches in abandoned floating farms called chinampas, using natural barriers to keep out invasive fish. Scientists are also reintroducing captive-bred axolotls into these restored habitats. Horacio describes the sensation for an axolotl entering clean wetland water as feeling like a perfect hug. He emphasizes that losing the axolotl would mean losing a part of Mexico's cultural and environmental identity, similar to the bald eagle in the United States. The tone is educational and conversational, designed to be engaging for young listeners with playful comparisons and vivid descriptions. The hosts maintain a sense of wonder and curiosity throughout the narrative. This episode is perfect for children interested in animals, conservation, or unique creatures like the axolotl. Listeners who prefer original, new episode content over replays might choose to skip it, as it is a rebroadcast celebrating the return of the Spanish-language version, Tumble en Español.

As heard by us

A careful conservation story that makes the science feel earned.

The episode opens with a fundraising note and a mention of the fourth season of Tumble en Espanol, then settles into a science story about an axolotl and the care needed to attach a transmitter without harming it.

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Why you'd press play

Want a story about axolotls, a tiny transmitter surgery, and why a careful scientist had to learn the animal from the inside out?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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