Rare Otter Spotted in Bicester

In a remarkable encounter, Chan Rhonda, a resident of Bicester, Oxfordshire, was taken aback when she spotted an otter running along a local stream, initially mistaking it for a dog. Capturing the moment on camera, Rhonda shared her experience on social media, which quickly garnered over 200 comments expressing astonishment from viewers. Julia Lofthouse, a representative from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT), praised Rhonda's keen observation, noting that such sightings are rare in Bicester. Rhonda, originally from Hong Kong, expressed her surprise at encountering wildlife in the area, stating that she was not accustomed to seeing animals in their natural habitats. During an interview with BBC Radio Oxford, Rhonda recounted how she first thought the otter belonged to a nearby gentleman, only to learn it was a wild animal. Lofthouse elaborated on the significance of the sighting, highlighting that otters were once on the brink of extinction in England during the late 1970s. The successful recovery of otters in recent decades has led to increased sightings across various waterways, including urban areas like Bicester. Lofthouse emphasized the importance of this sighting, reinforcing that it is indeed a positive indicator of wildlife resurgence in the region.