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European otters save the European water voles
10/Sep/2006: European Otters that were driven to near extinction due to habitat loss and use of chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides in the second half of the 20th century have started to re-populate in the British waterways.
The return of the European otters is helping in the revival of another native species, the European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) a semi –aquatic mammal, which resembles a rat.
A study carried out by a team of conservationists from the Oxford University found that the European otters are taking on the water voles’ enemy, the American mink (Mustela vision), which have established themselves in the wild in Europe after escaping from fur farms. American minks have been preying upon the water voles decimating their population in the wild.
The director of the wildlife conservation unit at oxford said that European otters were combating the American minks in the wild for territorial dominance and this has created a condition that is apt for the recovery of the water voles. He also added that they are looking at the possibilities of reintroducing water voles in the wild under a recovery program to assist the revival of this species.
Kesavan Siva
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