Dr. Luis Zambrano González

Through a choral diversity of testimonies, the documentary explores the myth of the axolotl, transporting us from the story of a chinampero whose lifestyle reflects the environmental decay of Mexico City, to the efforts of a group of scientists racing against the consequences of the extinction of our symbols and ecological heritage.

Every 10 years, the UNAM Ecological Restoration Laboratory conducts a census to measure the presence of axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, records have declined dramatically over the years: in 1994, 6,000 axolotls were found per square kilometer, while ten years ago, only 36 were found. As part of its Ciudades Territorio project, the Conexiones Climáticas team accompanied UNAM biologists and residents of Xochimilco in conducting the 2024-2025 axolotl census. There, we learned about the threats that are destroying the axolotl's habitat, the actions being taken to conserve it, and why without axolotls there is no Xochimilco.