We are a Devon-based charity dedicated to protecting and promoting a positive understanding of the European otter and its conservation. We rescue and rehabilitate otter cubs or injured otters, giving them a home and care until they are ready to be released back into the wild.
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Beneficiaries
Situation
Mortality on roads, entanglement in fish and lobster traps, and habitat degradation such as pollution continue to have a negative impact on the UK's otter population. The Eurasian otter is still categorised as ‘near-threatened’ on the IUCN red list of threatened species and globally their numbers are still in decline. Although otter numbers have drastically improved in the UK since their catastrophic decline in the 1950's/1960's there has been evidence to suggest recent localised decline.
Solution
Founded in 1998, and run solely by unpaid volunteers, The UK Wild Otter Trust has been rescuing, rehabilitating & releasing back into the wild, orphaned & injured Eurasian otters. Despite being a small charity, thanks to decades of experience UKWOT are a highly respected authority on the rehabilitation of otters. We have created a specialist rehabilitation centre thanks to funders, charity partners and public support giving us capacity to care for up to 40 animals if full.
