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Otters make return to city centre

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28th March, 2008

BBC News West, United Kingdom

One of Britain's most elusive creatures has returned to rivers in the centre of Bristol.

Otters were thought to have been driven out of the city by river pollution some 50 years ago.

But BBC wildlife cameraman Richard Taylor-Jones recently captured footage of an otter not far from the city centre.

"It's not the best shot in the world, but it wasn't about getting some beautiful artistry," he said.

"It was about just making the statement that we have these wonderful animals back in Bristol and proving that they're here."

Cleaner rivers

Mr Taylor-Jones spent a month working nights to prove his theory, initially using a special infra-red motion sensitive camera on the river bank

Local wildlife enthusiast Ian Llewellyn, who helped out, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It's fantastic.

"I'm really pleased for Richard and I'm more pleased for Bristol to be honest because it's such a fantastic thing to have in the city."

Otter spraints have also been found near the end of the M32 in Bristol, next to the new Cabot Circus shopping centre.

Conservationists said it was clear evidence that cleaner rivers are helping wildlife to re-establish itself in cities.