Otter News Archive

Delight as otters come back to Snowdonia lake

Read original. . .
Previous | Archive Index | Next

20th March 2010

BBC News, Wales, United Kingdom

Otters have been filmed playing in a Snowdonia lake, three years after they were last seen in the area.

Ricky Francis, who runs the Old Rectory guesthouse at Tal-y-Llyn, Gwynedd, said the family of four otters turned up a few weeks ago.

Kate Williamson, the Snowdonia National Park's biodiversity officer, said otter numbers had been recovering recently.

The Countryside Council for Wales said the existence of the otters was an indicator of a healthy eco-system.

"We last saw the male otter three years ago and then he suddenly disappeared," said Mr Francis.

Film stars

"To our delight he suddenly turned up again a few weeks ago and then his mate and two cubs appeared, and since then we have seen them often."

Ms Williamson said otter populations had been recovering over the past 20 years and were now reaching something like the numbers they should be.

"They are a priority species in the Snowdonia biodiversity action plan and we have undertaken a number of conservation projects across the park," she added.

Rhodri Dafydd, a senior conservation officer with the Countryside Council for Wales, said: "As one of our most attractive mammals, the otter sits at the top of its food chain and is therefore an indicator of a healthy eco-system," said

"Their presence on Llyn Mwyngil shows that the habitats and water quality in this part of Cadair Idris Site of Special Scientific Interest can and do support a wide range of species," he added.

The otters are also becoming stars of a video clip on the internet.

"We have filmed them from a distance that does not disturb them a number of times, and they seem to be unbothered by the camera," said Mr Francis.