Better water quality 'has boosted otter numbers'

A major improvement in the water quality of English rivers has helped to save the country's otter population from extinction, according to a new report.

The Environment Agency said the animal can now be found in every region of England, despite almost disappearing entirely during the 1970s due to the harmful effects of pesticides in the water.

Otter populations in the south-west of the country and along the River Wye recently reached their maximum capacity as a result of the resurgence, the report stated.

Paul Raven, head of conservation and ecology at the agency, said the animal's position at the top of the food chain makes it "an important indicator of the health of English rivers".

He added: "The recovery of otters from near-extinction shows how far we've come in controlling pollution and improving water quality."

The agency collected data from more than 3,300 river sites across the country before publishing its report.

Last month, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs launched a new research project aimed at reducing the level of agricultural pollution in British river systems.

Posted by Claire Manning