Once close to extinction, otters have made a remarkable comeback in the UK and are now found in almost every river system. Still rare just 20 years ago, the charismatic mammals are increasingly being spotted in towns and cities, from London’s Canary Wharf to garden ponds near York, and even wandering through city centres at night.
Conservationists say the recovery reflects decades of effort to improve water quality after industrial pollution and toxic pesticides devastated otter populations in the mid-20th century. Targeted reintroduction programmes, particularly in eastern England, have also played a role. While exact numbers are unknown, some estimates suggest there could now be around 11,000 otters nationwide.
Otters reproduce slowly, which meant recolonisation took time, but experts believe the species has now passed a tipping point. Although anglers sometimes blame them for declining fish stocks, researchers say there is little evidence otters are responsible. Instead, otters eat a wide range of prey and can act as indicators of river health, as pollutants accumulate in their bodies.
Scientists argue the otter’s return is both a conservation success story and a reminder of the work still needed to protect Britain’s waterways.
