Graceotter

Thank you. Our website has plenty more images and we would like to invite you to sign up for regular e-updates on our website with all things ottery.

I can understand your frustration and I agree that people need to give facts rather than stories. In your situation if the brook needs dredging they should do an environmental impact survey including an otter survey. Then they will find out if there really are otters presents and if so would it pose a real threat to them. Actually if someone sees an otter that isn't enough to get the area protected. There has to be the presence of an active otter holt. So if I were you I would approach your council and ask why it can't be dredged. I work in otter conservation and so obviously I want the environment to be protected. But I don't believe that they should be used to stop things for the sake of it. We are often asked to support people campaigning against a development even though there is no threat to otters. We all have to be balanced and protect our environment. If otters are present it means the water and land are in great condition, which is important for all species, including ourselves.

Take the 13 Challenge for WORLD OTTER DAY - Wednesday 27 May 2020 I would like to invite everyone to get a bit of cheer by joining in the International Otter Survival Fund's WORLD OTTER DAY. This is a day to spread the word about otters and how important these wonderful animals are to our environment. They use both the water and land and both have to be healthy which is so important for all species, including our own. Normally we have events such as coffee mornings, etc, but clearly this is not going to be possible this year. So we are asking people to spread the word through social media. We are also having the 13 challenge - there are 13 species of otter in the world and they are all in the Red List of endangered species with declining populations. So we are asking people to help us to create more awareness by taking up the challenge - you could contact 13 friends for an online drink and a chat, go for a sponsored 13 km or 13 mile run, bake 13 cakes to share or spend 13 hours dancing!! It's up to you. You can find more about IOSF and WORLD OTTER DAY at https://www.otter.org/Public/Events_OurCurrentEvent.aspx. Join in our OTTER TAKEOVER

I would like to draw people's attention to the serious illegal trade in otters. Everyone always thinks of elephants and tigers when it comes to illegal trade but otters are also at great risk. For years otters have been hunted for furs, but now they are largely protected and so the trade has had to go underground. In Asia for every tiger skin found there are at least 10 otter skins and one haul in Tibet had 778 otter skins! Otters are also being traded as pets, particularly in south-east Asia - there are over 800 pet otters in Jakarta alone and demand is also increasing in Japan where they now have otter cafes where people can go and interact with young otters. Most of the otters are Asian small-clawed otters and they are mostly taken from the wild. The mother is often killed as she tries to protect her cubs and they are being smuggled in suitcases. Please help the International Otter Survival Fund stop the trade in otters (www.otter.org)