In otter news...

Otters spotted on campus

Wednesday 27 May marks World Otter Day - established by the International Otter Survival Fund to celebrate these furry creatures and raise awareness and support for their conservation globally.

We are thrilled to share that otters have been discovered on campus. As a predator that relies on good-quality aquatic and terrestrial habitats, this endangered species is a key indicator of environmental health.

The Energy and Sustainability Team works closely with the Grounds and Gardens and the Waste and Recycling Teams to keep campus a fantastic place for people to visit, but also as a safe haven for wildlife.

Using wildlife cameras, the team monitors animal species on campus and they captured a couple of otters marking their territory at Tocil Lake.

If you'd like to learn more about wildlife on campus, look out for upcoming eventsLink opens in a new window and sign up to become a Green Champion to hear about new initiatives.

Dalma Zsalako, Sustainability Assistant, commented:

“It's a really big achievement for the University. Otters are top-level predators and when they are present, when they stick around, it means the environment is healthy. This means our campus can support enough prey species for such a predator to live permanently at a site. And they have a habitat where they can hunt and rest and reproduce. And that's what we are trying to create on campus.”

Fun otter facts:

There are 14 species of otter around the world and many of them are endangered.
Otters can't hold their breath underwater for long periods and usually dive for no more than 30 seconds at a time.
A group of otters on land is called a Romp and a group at sea is called a Raft.
There are theories that the sightings of the Loch Ness monster were actually otters.
Otters are part of the Mustelid family of animals, which also includes badgers, weasels and polecats - all of which have been spotted on campus with the help of wildlife trail cameras. Find out what else has been recorded at Warwick on the iNaturalist app.