We captured exclusive video footage of an otter last week, which is a first for Sussex! It was caught on a wildlife camera after a member of public contacted the team to report what they thought were otter tracks on a river bank. Within a few days, this unmistakable footage was captured!
Click on this link to see the footage.
This is really exciting news for West Sussex and highlights how successful conservation working in partnership can be. Otters are a flagship species, at the top of the wetland food chain. We know that if otters are healthy, then the species in the food chain below them are also healthy. This natural recolonization is great news for the catchment!
Otters were once widespread in Sussex and the rest of the UK, but from the 1960s the population was decimated due to industrial and agricultural pollution along with hunting and the destruction of their habitat. They became extinct in many parts of the UK.
Through bringing together expertise from several organisations, the ARC project has been able to improve the local waterways and encourage native species such as otter, water vole, eel, rare birds and insects to re-colonise the area.
For further information or to arrange an interview, please contact: RSPB Southeast communications team on 01273 775 333.