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Otter spotted in WWT Slimbridge's newly created otter habitat

An otter was spotted yesterday in newly created otter habitat by visitors to WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.

The otter habitat can be viewed from the Zeiss hide overlooking the reserve which sits on the bank of the Severn. This habitat was created by a team from the Environment Agency as part of their ongoing, hands on, support for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT).

Reserve wardens at Slimbridge were delighted that new habitats are being used by the wide range of species such as breeding wading birds, water voles and otters'. Where otters used to be an incredibly rare sighting, all three reserve wardens have seen otters within the newly created habitat over the past year. Visitors have reported glimpses too.

James Lees said 'It was a brilliant experience, I walked into the Zeiss hide where we have been able to view a Bittern this week. I saw a heron flying off and looked out to see an otter, fishing. Visitors were able to see Bittern and Otter together, they are both highly sought after species in the UK and to see both together was amazing.'

Cathy Beeching, Environment Agency officer said: "The sightings at Slimbridge are excellent news. Otters started to come back into the area in the 1990's, but we need to recreate habitats like the ones at Slimbridge to encourage them to breed."

Kevin Perberty, WWT's Director of Centre Developments said 'The creation of new habitat is part of our strategic development to increase the biodiversity of habitats at Slimbridge. Our aim is to increase the diversity of wild species which use Slimbridge as a safe habitat. With its location next to the amazing Severn, Slimbridge is home to many more species than the thousands of water birds we are renowned for'.

He added 'since the Environment Agency helped us develop this new habitat we have noted an increase in numbers of Water Vole at Slimbridge and also otters, which we are seeing more of on the Severn.'