Otter population is increasing along River Roding
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29th February, 2008
Wu Qi
China View, Beijing, China
 THE ESSEX otter population is on the up - these cute water-loving mammals have been busy breeding over the last year.
Their existence in the area was all but wiped out, but a recent survey shows improvements along the northern parts of the River Roding and the River Colne.
Water for Wildlife officer, Darren Tansley explains the reasons behind the otter boom: "Twenty years ago they were pretty much extinct in Essex.
"A reduction in the number of chemicals in the water and also the banning of lead in fuel has meant that the water has become much cleaner in our rivers.
"Otters are not picking up the toxins that they were, so they've gradually spread down from Suffolk and down into our rivers."
Otters appear to be doing well in the region but there may be some problems in the future.
Otter expert, Graham Scollay added: "As far as I know, there have nit been otters in Barking since the 1950s. But with the general improvement of the population, there could soon be otters further down the Roding - if there is fish, there can be otters."
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