BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Birmingham Zoo is adding one of the internet’s most recognizable amphibians to its animal roster, opening a new axolotl habitat to the public Wednesday, July 22. The exhibit features axolotls, a species of salamander native to Mexico that is known for its feathery external gills, permanent aquatic life stage and wide, almost smiling appearance.
The new habitat comes as the zoo marks its 70th year and continues a run of recent additions that have drawn attention from visitors, including cougars, bobcats, bears and a mountain lion in the zoo’s predator area. Zoo news posted on the Birmingham Zoo’s website shows the facility has been steadily expanding and updating exhibits throughout 2025 and 2026.
Axolotls have gained popularity far beyond aquariums and zoos because of their unusual looks and their ability to regenerate body parts. They are also considered critically endangered in the wild, according to reporting on the Birmingham Zoo’s new habitat, making the exhibit part attraction and part conservation reminder.
The Birmingham Zoo says it houses about 950 animals representing 230 species, and the axolotl addition gives local families another close-up look at an animal many know mostly from social media or classrooms. The zoo’s recent news archive also shows a pattern of introducing new animals and exhibits as part of its broader effort to keep the property fresh for visitors.