Minecraft, Movies, and Axolotls
How to improve conservation messages for endangered species?
∘ Good intentions, misleading results
∘ Connections between the entertainment industry and endangered species
∘ Negative impacts: The “Nemo” effect
∘ Making good publicity for endangered species
∘ So, what about Minecraft´s axolotl?
Good intentions, misleading results
I started to play Minecraft [1] because axolotls were implemented recently in the 1.17 version. Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum [2]) have scientific value since they have the incredible capacity for regenerating amputated limbs and organs contrary to other types of salamanders which only can regenerate limbs.
The axolotl is an endemic species from the valley of Mexico that is now near to extinction. In the past, its distribution included the entire lagoon complex of the valley, but today, there are only a few wild populations restricted to the Xochimilco canal system. Their habitat has been reduced due to urban expansion, water pollution, and the introduction of invasive species [3]. As a result, they are listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) and by the Mexican laws (NOM-059).
Mojang studios has the trend of adding endangered species such as polar bears, giant pandas, sea turtles, and bees, to raise awareness among Minecraft’s players [4,5]. This is a really good example of how the entertainment industry can be used to improve empathy for endangered species conservation and to inspire public interest.
But, does it always work that way? On the one hand, hopefully, their appearance in Minecraft will improve conservation awareness. However, using endangered species as a part of a merchandise campaign could lead to negative effects because the increased interest of players might drive market demand for its consumption.
Connections between the entertainment industry and endangered species
Since more people around the world are increasingly getting disconnected from nature [6], the entertainment industry takes a more important role to introduce audiences to new places and biodiversity.
Movies, for example [7,8], featuring relatively little-known species can increase public interest in them. For instance, the release of Madagascar (2005 and 2008) and Rio (2011 and 2014) films and Finding Dory (2016) corresponded to a substantial increase in U.S. Google.com searches for protagonist species featured in each movie [7].
In a general way, these trends could be a two-edged sword. We want people to know about these species because, or else, how can we protect what we don’t know we have? But, on the other hand, what happens when there is no clear message? I began to feel curious about this question since I heard the news that there is a growing demand for axolotls in New Zealand attributed to Minecraft’s popularity [9]. Could this be negative for axolotl?
Negative impacts: The “Nemo” effect
The increased exposure can produce new threats to species thrown into the spotlight due to their starring role in movies. Since these negative effects are difficult to predict and measure, they are usually poorly considered during film production.
The better known negative consequence is the “Nemo effect”. The Disney-Pixar movie Finding Nemo (2003) had a purported impact on wild Clownfish populations after the increased market demand for common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) due to the film’s popularity [10 11].
Similarly, the increase in the number of owls traded illegally on Indonesian markets has risen sharply because of the Harry Potter series [12], many of which are endangered species recently discovered.
Making good publicity for endangered species
To improve conservation outcomes, specific reference to the conservation status of the species could be important.
A representative case of this is the inclusion of a pangolin in Disney’s remake of The Jungle Book (2016). It makes a cameo appearance, spectating while Mowgli retrieves honey from a tall cliff. There is a line in the movie where Baloo jokingly threatens the pangolin by telling him he’s never been a “more endangered species than at that moment” [13].
Pangolins are threatened by hunting and illegal trade, listed as endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List [14], and listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) [15].
It is impossible to make conservation the primary aim of the modern movie industry, but films can highlight issues of concern to help people to understand that they should not consume/pet these species. Blue Sky Studios’ Rio (2011, 2014) for example, pointed out that the Spix’s Macaw (Cyanopsitta spixii) and other exotic bird species are endangered by illegal trade and illegal logging.
Movies don’t need to focus their plot on it, but they could mention a little more about the main context of the involved species and highlight relevant conservation organizations in associated promotional credits [16].
Finally, industry participation strategies must be positive, collaborative, and promoted by expert conservation scientists. If conservation professionals are involved at the beginning of a project, potential conservation-related issues that may arise can be anticipated [17]. For instance, Disney-Pixar sought the advice of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to mitigate a repeat of the Nemo effect after Finding Dory’s (2016) premiere.
Responsible fish buying and ownership were fomented as a part of the film’s promotional campaign (for example, the selecting the right pet fish poster) and an educator guide was produced that included information on marine species and their conservation.
So, what about Minecraft´s axolotl?
Returning to Minecraft, to be sincere I do not think that Mojang Studios are doing wrong. It is not like New Zealand trading is based on extracting axolotls directly from Xochimilco.
The paradox is that while wild populations continue to decrease, the axolotl is also becoming one of the most widely distributed amphibians in labs and pet shops around the world [3].
My personal thought is that today, axolotl’s main conservation issues are related to improving conservation locally (at Xochimilco and Mexico City). Mojang studios could enhance its conservation message if they add information about axolotls to highlight their conservation status and promote responsible buying, but again, it is not like they are doing wrong.
Biological conservation is really complex (there are entangled relationships between ecology, biology, economics, and society) and stories risk being oversimplified in the entertainment industry, so its interpretation has to be taken with care.
If you want to read more about movies and endangered species, please check this article [7], more information about axolotl here [2, 3], and for more information about international species trading, check these links [15, 18].
Let me know your opinion in the comments.
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