Mexico City Mayor defends axolotl image use, citing conservation efforts

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada has strongly defended her administration's use of the axolotl's image in public works and infrastructure projects, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup. She asserts that critics who claim her government merely "paints axolotls" deliberately ignore substantial conservation work being undertaken for the endangered amphibian.

During an event to inaugurate renovated facilities at the Cuemanco pier in Xochimilco, Brugada detailed ongoing initiatives. Her administration is actively working to recover 30 chinampa sites, traditional agricultural islands, with the goal of reintroducing the axolotl into its natural habitat. Furthermore, construction is underway for the "Santuario del Ajolote" (Axolotl Sanctuary), which is slated for inauguration in the coming months.

Brugada also pointed to the operationalization of Mexico City's first public laboratory focused on axolotl conservation. This facility houses hundreds of axolotl specimens and plays a crucial role in the broader conservation program. "When they say that we only paint axolotls, it is deliberately hiding the work we do to conserve them," she stated, accusing critics of misinformation or manipulation.

The mayor emphasized that these diverse actions constitute a comprehensive program for the integral care and conservation of the axolotl. She promised that the results of this extensive program would be announced "very soon," aiming to counter the narrative that the administration's efforts are purely superficial.

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When they say that we only paint axolotls, it is deliberately hiding the work we do to conserve them. Those who claim we only paint are misinforming or are misinformed; they manipulate or are manipulated. Or they simply lie to discredit the work of our government.