British otters make comeback in urban waterways
Date: 20-Nov-02
Country: UK
Statistics from The Wildlife Trust recorded otters in more than 100 cities and towns across the nation, from Cardiff to Canterbury and Norwich to Newcastle.
Otters were almost completely wiped out in the 1970s by pollution and habitat loss but Simon Lyster, the trust's director general, said the shy mammals have made a comeback.
"Important wildlife habitat can exist in urban areas and people are now more likely than ever to be able to catch a glimpse of one of the UK's most charismatic creatures," he said.
And to encourage the new city dwellers to stay, the conservationists came up with some otter-friendly urban river planning ideas, including floating resting platforms and stepping-stone walkways to guide them down weirs.
