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Orphaned otters face brighter future
CUTE and cuddly they might be - but strictly no touching!
Meet orphans Brussel, Sprout and Parsnip.
They are the three latest arrivals desperately in need of the help of The New Forest Otter, Owl and Wildlife Park.
Sadly, all three have lost their parents so are relying on the guidance of staff at the park near Ashurst to help them grow up.
At two months old, Brussel the boy and sisters Sprout and Parsnip arrived from North Wales and Norfolk respectively.
John Crooks, animal manager at the park, said: "Their mums have probably been knocked down by a car. Traffic is a big killer of otters.
"They came to us from the RSPCA. A lot of the otters we care for are orphaned and come to us once they have reached the stage where they have sharp teeth and need to be weaned off bottles of milk.
"It's better for them to grow up in groups so they don't miss mum so much and have someone to play with."
The three Eurasian River Otters are living together and are healthily tucking into fillets of trout every day.
| “Their mums have probably been knocked down by a car. Traffic is a big killer of otters." | | John Crooks, animal manager |
|
The park has about 40 otters on show to the public, but Brussel, Sprout and Parsnip will stay behind closed doors until they can be released back into the wild next spring.
"We try to be as hands off as possible," said John. "We plan to return them to the wild so we don't want them to become used to humans."
The park is also home to a new litter of eight wild boar piglets, born three weeks ago. They will grow up with very little help from the park's staff. With their fearsome tusks and muscular shoulders, mum and dad make it too dangerous for keepers to get anywhere near the cute babies.
John said: "They will grow very quickly and will look as big and ugly as dad by the end of the summer, but at the moment they have still got their stripes and spots on their coats. Like most wayward children, they are getting up to lots of mischief!"
8:50am Wednesday 16th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: AWOL, take away on 9:37am Wed 16 Jan 08
Put them in a tarqua curry,
same as tika but otter!
Put them in a tarqua curry,
same as tika but otter!
Posted by: Viv Isaakson on 9:57am Wed 16 Jan 08
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !!
With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !!
With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
Posted by: Dr DontDoAlot on 10:01am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] Humans spread alot of dangerous viruses too... would you have each one shot?
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
Humans spread alot of dangerous viruses too... would you have each one shot?
Posted by: Ciaran on 10:06am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Posted by: Master Bates on 10:41am Wed 16 Jan 08
I like touching otters.
Posted by: ha ha on 10:44am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]AWOL[/bold] wrote:
Put them in a tarqua curry,
same as tika but otter![/quote] "Tarqua"? Is that the posh version of Tarka the Otter?
AWOL wrote:
Put them in a tarqua curry,
same as tika but otter!
"Tarqua"? Is that the posh version of Tarka the Otter?
Posted by: Seaman Staines on 10:53am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Master Bates[/bold] wrote:
I like touching otters.[/quote] I prefer a nice bit of beaver.
Master Bates wrote:
I like touching otters.
I prefer a nice bit of beaver.
Posted by: shsrgsg, zfzv on 10:53am Wed 16 Jan 08
I can't believe somebody would sexually abuse a poor defenseless otter!!
I can't believe somebody would sexually abuse a poor defenseless otter!!
Posted by: Viv Isaakson on 11:17am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Ciaran[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] How do otters spread Bird Flu then?[/quote] Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
Ciaran wrote:
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
Posted by: B. Spooner on 11:20am Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Master Bates[/bold] wrote:
I like touching otters.[/quote] I hope you used appropriate cutlery ?
Master Bates wrote:
I like touching otters.
I hope you used appropriate cutlery ?
Posted by: C, Southampton on 12:07pm Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Ciaran[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] How do otters spread Bird Flu then?[/quote] Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
[/quote] Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence.
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Ciaran wrote:
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence.
Posted by: Viv Isaakson on 12:28pm Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]C[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Ciaran[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] How do otters spread Bird Flu then?[/quote] Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
[/quote] Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence. [/quote] Whilst I am not a fan of otters persay, my particular grievance in this instance is the transportation of the vermin across country at this time.
Quite clearly there will have been contact or at least close proximity to humans and therefore the chance of spreading infection is great.
If it transpires that hundreds of animals have to be culled to stop infection spreading surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to 'mother nature' ?
Human intervention of this type should be stopped - it is preventing a natural equilibrium being established with the animal world.
C wrote:
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Ciaran wrote:
Viv Isaakson wrote:
Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest).
Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence.
Whilst I am not a fan of otters persay, my particular grievance in this instance is the transportation of the vermin across country at this time.
Quite clearly there will have been contact or at least close proximity to humans and therefore the chance of spreading infection is great.
If it transpires that hundreds of animals have to be culled to stop infection spreading surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to 'mother nature' ?
Human intervention of this type should be stopped - it is preventing a natural equilibrium being established with the animal world.
Posted by: Harry Remmington, New Forest on 1:17pm Wed 16 Jan 08
[italic]surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to 'mother nature' ?[/italic]
These otters are imported aliens and adapt well to captivity. The true British otter is still a shy rarity.
surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to 'mother nature' ?
These otters are imported aliens and adapt well to captivity. The true British otter is still a shy rarity.
Posted by: Libertarian, Winchester on 3:55pm Wed 16 Jan 08
[quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]C[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Ciaran[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Viv Isaakson[/bold] wrote: Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !![/quote] How do otters spread Bird Flu then?[/quote] Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest). Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can ! [/quote] Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence. [/quote] Whilst I am not a fan of otters persay, my particular grievance in this instance is the transportation of the vermin across country at this time. Quite clearly there will have been contact or at least close proximity to humans and therefore the chance of spreading infection is great. If it transpires that hundreds of animals have to be culled to stop infection spreading surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to \'mother nature\' ? Human intervention of this type should be stopped - it is preventing a natural equilibrium being established with the animal world. [/quote] Human intervention in the natural equilibrium has been going on for hundreds of years. Stopping it now would be disasterous!
Your ignorance astounds me Viv.
Viv Isaakson wrote:
C wrote: Viv Isaakson wrote: Ciaran wrote: Viv Isaakson wrote: Otters are just aquatic rats....they carry and spread disease in the same way !! With all the problems with Bird Flu and other pandemics why are we allowing such vermin to be transported around the country. The kindest thing would have been a sharp tap on the temples !!
How do otters spread Bird Flu then?
Bird Flu is not exclusive to birds (in spite of what the name might suggest). Any animals who share the same environment can catch and transmit this fatal disease. If a few chinese farmers can get it then a larger aquatic rat can !
Oh get a life! Occurrences of these types of disease are still quite small considering the population of this country. And the likelihood of a member of the public ever coming into contact with an otter is next to nothing. Otters are listed as Vulnerable by the 2000 IUCN Red List. They have become extinct in much of their range, with many populations still diminishing. They are strictly protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) and cannot be killed, kept or sold without a licence.
Whilst I am not a fan of otters persay, my particular grievance in this instance is the transportation of the vermin across country at this time. Quite clearly there will have been contact or at least close proximity to humans and therefore the chance of spreading infection is great. If it transpires that hundreds of animals have to be culled to stop infection spreading surely it would be far kinder to leave these otters to take their chances in their home environment and leave it to \'mother nature\' ? Human intervention of this type should be stopped - it is preventing a natural equilibrium being established with the animal world.
Human intervention in the natural equilibrium has been going on for hundreds of years. Stopping it now would be disasterous!
Your ignorance astounds me Viv.
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