Surrey animal lovers urged to adopt an otter (From Epsom Guardian)

Surrey animal lovers urged to adopt an otter

5:00am Sunday 6th June 2010

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A campaign is urging animal lovers in Surrey to adopt an otter.

The Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) has just launched its ‘Adopt An Otter’ scheme, offering the chance to help conserve the otter and encourage it back to rivers in the county.

Numbers of the European otter have suffered because of hunting, the use of pesticides and habitat destruction.

Although now recovering in Britain, the population is still fragile and otters are very rare in Surrey.

At present there are only a few exploring our rivers and, as yet, there are not enough animals to form a stable population.

Chris Matcham, SWT Otters and Rivers Project Officer, said: "Surrey is one of the few counties left in Britain which has no resident otter population.

"Sponsors' support will help fund the habitat improvements needed to bring otters back to Surrey."

Anyone wishing to adopt an otter for a year will receive a gift pack including a personalised certificate, otter soft toy, fact sheet, FSC Guide to British Land Mammals, photograph, sticker and badge – all for just £18.50.

In addition, the trust will send two newsletters during the year to let the proud otter’s sponsors know how their support is helping Surrey’s otters.

To adopt an otter visit SWT’s website at www.surreywildlifetrust.org or contact Sophie Mariner at sophie.mariner@surreywt.org.uk or on 01483 795442.

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