A critical conservation effort is underway in Michoacán state to rescue the achoque, a rare salamander endemic to Lake Pátzcuaro that now faces extinction. Local fishermen have transitioned from harvesting fish to collecting amphibian eggs as part of a collaborative preservation project.
The achoque, a close relative of Mexico’s famous axolotl, has been placed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species. Scientists estimate only 80-100 individuals remain in a small section of the lake – a dramatic decline from population levels four decades ago.
Community Involvement
“There used to be a lot of achoques,” noted fisherman Froylán Correa. “Nowadays, the new generation doesn’t even know about them.”
The species faces multiple threats including overfishing, pollution, and shrinking water levels in Lake Pátzcuaro. Historically, the salamander has been used both as food and in traditional medicine for respiratory ailments since pre-Columbian times.
Collaborative Efforts and Challenges
Biologists from Michoacán University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo have formed a partnership with the Indigenous Purépecha community of San Jerónimo Purenchécuaro. The program compensates local fishermen for collecting eggs, raising hatchlings, and releasing them back into the wild.
The conservation effort requires constant attention, with team members working daily regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Though the program has helped stabilize the population initially, securing ongoing funding to compensate the fishermen remains challenging.
Broader Impact
This preservation initiative reflects similar efforts throughout Mexico to protect endangered amphibians, particularly the country’s iconic axolotl.
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