Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) announced that the return of the otter heralds a new era for our rivers and hundreds of species that rely on this habitat for survival.

Otters, one of the UK's best loved mammals, were widespread in Britain in the 1950s but their numbers declined rapidly in the decades following the Second World War due to water pollution, destruction of wetlands, hunting and road kill. By the 1970s the otter was considered extinct in Sussex and across most of the UK.

Since being made a protected species in 1978, otters have only occasionally been spotted in Sussex as they migrated through the county to find new territories and mates.

"Otters are top of the food chain and their presence in Sussex indicates that the rivers and wetlands in which they are living are healthy and thriving." explains Dr Tony Whitbread, Chief Executive of SWT.

"That's not only good news for other wetland wildlife such as kingfishers and dragonflies, but it indicates fisheries are recovering and that drinking water from our rivers is improving too."

Intensive management of rivers and waterways led to the destruction of over 60 per cent of wetland areas in Sussex between 1960 and 1980. Many other wetland species including the water vole have suffered but at last, the long term efforts of Sussex conservation organisations and landowners are paying off.

Leading wetland conservation and restoration efforts in Sussex is
the Sussex Otters and River Project (SORP) - a partnership between SWT,
South East Water, the Environment Agency and Southern Water.

Fran Southgate SORP Officer says "The return of the otter in Sussex is good news but not yet a happy ending. Otters used to be common and widespread but we only have one confirmed resident otter in Sussex. We still have a great deal of work to do before they are able to return in numbers to all our rivers.

"We now recognise how important wetlands are for people as well as for wildlife. Managing our rivers has a big role to play in protecting precious water resources as well as threatened species. It is this wider landscape approach that is now directing our attention so the work we do to restore wetlands will help people as well as otters."