Welcome to The Otter Trust
Important Announcement: Mission AccomplishedThis project was carried out by The Otter Trust on behalf of the Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature). Otter numbers have grown dramatically since the first reintroductions in 1983 and this success means that no further releases of captive-bred otters have been needed since the 117th otter was reintroduced by the Trust in 1999. The breeding programme has therefore been scaled right back and it is now time to close it altogether. This means that the Earsham site would not be a viable visitor attraction and therefore is no longer open to the public. Members of the Trust will still be able to visit Earsham - by appointment only - to enjoy the tranquillity of the beautiful scenery and the wildfowl, but there will be no otters. This change in the nature of the Earsham Centre does not mean that the Trust itself is closing but rather that it will concentrate on it's original 1971 conservation aims rather than focussing most resources on breeding. Please note that the Tamar Otter Sanctuary has been sold and the Otter Trust is no longer associated with it. The Otter Trust North Pennines Reserve near Bowes, Co Durham, is also no longer open to visitors other than members of the Trust, who may tour the reserve with a keeper by prior appointment only. No otters are kept there. The Otter Trust Earsham Centre is also closed to the general public. It is open only to trust members, by prior appointement. No otters are kept there. |
