Otters to be tempted back to the river Thames
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A PROJECT to tempt otters back to the Thames was launched yesterday by Sir David Attenborough, the wildlife broadcaster, and Michael Meacher, the Environment minister, who posed with two tame otters near Maidenhead in Berkshire.
It is hoped that by improving the riverside habitat and water quality, the three-year, pounds 170,000 scheme will encourage the mammals to return to the river and its tributaries in Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Wild otters were last resident in the Thames region in the 1970s, before intensive agricultural pesticides and damage to their habitat led to their decline.
Signs of otters have been found in the area in recent years, suggesting that a small number of transient otters are seeking territories in the Thames region.
Local people will be involved in recovery efforts and in raising awareness of the plight of the otter.
Sir David said: "The otter is one of our most enchanting animals. Everyone will benefit if we succeed in this. It is a chance for us to put right some of the damage done to our wildlife."
Between the late 1950s and the 1970s otters were brought to the verge of extinction by a mixture of hunting, pollution and encroachment on their environment by expanding towns.
Contamination by agricultural pesticides and fertilisers was pinpointed as one of the main causes of the decline, causing fish stocks in rivers to dwindle and starving otters from their natural habitat.
Conservation efforts over the past 20 years have seen the British otter's fortunes restored, with numbers reaching 3,000. The Government has pledged to reintroduce the otter to all its pre-1960 habitats by 2010.
The scheme is part of the National Otter Biodiversity Action Plan, which was launched last summer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments