ELI5 Endangered Species - how is the axolotl endangered but also in pet stores?

ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast

How do researchers accurately estimate the population of endangered species in the wild? How can the axolotl be both critically endangered and readily available in pet stores? How did the giant panda get off the endangered list? What is the process of how a species is declared endangered?

... we explain like I'm five

Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: inkypaws, nephisimian, jeremy_martin, iprocrastina, breckenridgeback, kulalolk, shejesa and cosmic_gallant

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