Medway's Tarka. Are otters returning?
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One of
Britain's most-loved - but rarest - mammals could be making a
permanent return to the River Medway.
There have been recent sightings of
otters around the Barming area.
Reports suggest Barming
Bridge is the place to go for a chance to spot the elusive
fish-eating creatures, which entered the nation's affections after
the publication of Henry Williamson's novel Tarka the Otter.
A call from one resident is the
latest in a string of reports of otters in the river at Barming -
proof to environmentalists that ongoing work to create habitats
along the river is paying off.
Caroline Drewett, partnership
manager for the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership, confirmed
there had been several sightings near the bridge, adding: "Otters
do live in the Medway catchment but they’re so secretive that
you’re lucky to ever see one. I’ve never seen one myself - it’s
usually fisherman that spot them."
She added: "The Environment Agency
have made a lot of improvements along the river for otters."
But she said the River Medway could
not support many otters as the animals have long territories or
‘ranges’ stretching for up to 20 kilometres along a river.
Have you spotted one? Do you have a
picture?
Let us know by emailing messengernews@thekmgroup.co.uk
Picture: Colin Miles.
Wednesday, September 16 2009
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