How is it that axolotls are listed as “critically endangered” species, but they are allowed to be pets that don’t even sell for more that much?

Question

Apparently there are breeders making Axolotls and they only go for a few hundred bucks at most. How is this possible? And how are so many people able to own them as pets if they are very close to extinction?

In: 6261

Answer 1

Breeding a species in captivity is not really the same as maintaining a wild populations, private breeders have total control over the environment their animals are in and can often trigger seasonal breeding repeatedly, they can also hand care for young to ensure a higher survival rates than in the wild. They of course also don’t have to deal with environmental pollutants, predators, habit loss or any of those other factors which put pressure on a wild population.