Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — This group of lesser-known animals is stealing hearts and attention on social media.
Queso, Feta and Parm are part of the Cheese Babes, a crew of axolotls from Libertyland Axolotl Rescue. They are a nonprofit with locations all over New England that provides education, rehabilitations and adoptions for axolotls.
“Axolotls are salamanders,” Sophia Pirone, a volunteer with the rescue, told WBZ NewsRadio. “But unlike normal salamanders, they actually stay in water their entire life.”
The three aforementioned aquatic creatures, along with 13 others, were taken in by the organization after being surrendered from a hoarding situation in January.
Many of them had missing limbs, infections, and other health concerns.
The non-profit said Queso, who recently had surgery, has a long recovery road ahead after developing a bone density issue, but he has been recovering nicely.
Photo: Emma Friedman/WBZ NewsRadio
“He is by far our biggest eater,” Pirone said.
After posting their rescue story on social media, they have received an outpouring of support from the community in donations and foster and adoption applications, adding that their volunteer team is working through the high-volume of requests.
“The donations that we got were just numbers we’ve never seen before, which helped all of the axolotls that we got, the 16, plus all the axolotls that we have currently in foster,” Pirone continued.
To find updates on the Cheese Babes, visit their social media account, and to learn more about the Libertyland Axolotl Rescue, visit their website here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Emma Friedman (@EmmaFriedmanWBZ) reports.