Otters spotted at Hampshire estate for first time since 1950s

Otters have been spotted on a rural estate for the first time in 70 years.

The pair of otters – a mother and baby – were seen at Ewhurst Park, a 1,000-acre estate near Basingstoke.

In September, it was announced two beavers born in the park were the first in 400 years.

The former shooting estate has been the subject of a rewilding project since it was bought by Malaysian-born model, actor and entrepreneur Mandy Lieu in 2020.

Footage of the two otters was captured by cameras set up by the park’s rangers.

Ms Lieu said: “It’s been amazing to watch as nature has started to take front and centre stage across the park.

“Otters prefer clean freshwater so our newest residents are a sign that water quality is improving.”

The estate said it had also recorded a total of 90 different bird species in 2024, including many listed as of red concern nationally.

The UK’s otter population increased steadily between the the 1970s and the 2010s, after a pesticide, which brought them to the brink of extinction, was banned.

However, experts have warned that otters in some areas of the UK are at risk from increased levels of river pollution.