Amazing animal survival stories

Outstanding otters!

In the 1970s, the otter, one of the UK’s most beloved creatures, had all but vanished. Pesticides, pollution and habitat loss drove them to virtual extinction. But now these treasured semi-aquatic mammals are making a comeback. In the 1980s, a law was introduced that forbid their persecution, and attempts were made to clean up the UK waterways². Small numbers of otters were then reintroduced in areas such as East Anglia and Dorset and now there are otters in every English county³. As their territories have grown, they have even been spotted in Central London⁴, the first to live in the capital for 100 years. Care is also available for any otters who find themselves orphaned, as Hannah found out when she visited the Wild Otter Trust in Devon. The team there act as surrogate parents to the orphans, preparing them for life in the wild by teaching them to hunt, play, fight, and even giving them swimming lessons in the bath!

Blooming bison!

For some species, it is simply too late to attempt population resuscitation. The mighty steppe bison once roamed the woodlands of Britain, but died out 6,000 or more years ago⁵ when hunting and changes in habitat led to its global extinction. But in Kent, there are plans to introduce its closest living relative, the European bison, who almost suffered the same fate as its ancient cousin. After World War I, it was hunted to extinction in the wild throughout Europe, with the final one shot in the Caucasus in 1927⁶. But a captive breeding programme saw them reintroduced to woods across the continent. This includes the world’s largest free-living population, a 1,000-strong herd that roams the Białowieża Forest, on the Poland-Belarus border⁷.

Proliferating pine martens!

Pine martens were once one of the UK’s most common carnivores⁸. But hunting and habitat loss eventually drove their dwindling population to a tiny corner of the Scottish Highlands and to extinction throughout the rest of the country. However, these elusive, extremely cute mammals are currently returning to the woodlands of England and Wales. The last official recording of pine martens in the Forest of Dean was in 1860⁹, but 18 have been reintroduced into the area and conservationists say at least three of their females have since had kits. Meanwhile, the population in Wales – where they were reintroduced in 2015 – has risen to around 60. Marten numbers may still be low, but they’re back from the brink¹⁰ and making a welcome return to the UK’s woodland.

Featured image © Troy Harrison | Getty

^{1 Reintroduction, 2 Law changes, 3 Otters in every county, 4 Otters in London, 5 Bison extinction, 6 Final bison shot, 7 Białowieża Forest, 8 Pine Marten, 9 Forest of Dean, 10 Pine Martens - Wales}