written by Ebony Topham, student journalist at Inscape House School
Inscape recently acquired a new addition to the highly successful AAI team. That being an axolotl! The axolotl is named Axie, as voted by the students.
Axie is 3 months old and is a Leucistic (Pink) Axolotl. They are a translucent white colour and have shimmering flecks of gold (however, they look pink). They have pink gills and dark eyes. Because these axolotls are easy for predators to spot, they are rare in the wild, and human activity such as buying them and destroying their habitat has led to their population numbers drastically declining. Axolotl are highly endangered and vulnerable species, and only found in one spot in the wild in the world. That being a specific lake in Mexico.
When Axie was purchased, from the specialist breeder, they were 10cm however, after settling in they are around 15cm’s. So they have grown quite a lot!
Axie has to live in a tank (however, in the wild, axolotls are typically found in lakes, canals and waterfalls). The water has to be 16-18 degrees (C) but never exceed 24 degrees (C).The water PH levels are tested once a day by students, recording the temperatures on the AAI paperwork to be in line with the policies of AAI. The students help has been extremely beneficial in keeping Axie both happy and healthy!
The students and staff love Axie, they are a very big presence in our school despite being so small. Axie helps our students feel calm, happy, and providing company. Many autistic students struggle with social skills, and making friends. Therefore, Axie is able to provide a comforting sense of connection just by looking and smiling at them.
Danielle, Animal assisted intervention practitioner at Inscape, tells us a bit more about how the students love Axie, and how they benefit students: “The students love the axolotl and is a very popular new addition to our AAI team. The students like the fact that due to the axolotl being endangered in the wild we are doing our part to help keep the species alive and educate our students about the importance of helping animals around the world. Student’s feed Axie fish based pellets and bloodworms, and test the water levels. They also help me change the water and keep the axolotl happy at Inscape.”
Axie joins an already established team of support animals that include: Stitch- the bearded dragon, Simba and Davey – the friendly tortoises, Pepper and Pandora – the adorable guinea pigs, Nibble and Nugget – cuddly hamsters, and Shabba – the trusty support dog. Are you an animal lover? Did you know you could become a sponsor for our furry little helpers?
Animal Assisted Intervention is also a great tool to encourage students to think more about their emotions. Through a variety of games like conversation cubes, Danielle fosters a welcoming environment where students aren’t afraid to share how they feel. Alfie explains that touching the tortoises and playing with them makes him feel calm and more relaxed at school.
Do you want to hear more about how Animal Assisted Intervention helps students? Watch our video below.
