Out & About September 2017

OA feature

D id you know that the otter is the oldest mammal on earth, that there are 13 different species and the California sea otter is the only one that lives in water? These are just some of the myriad facts Daphne Neville has at her fingertips, after 36 years devoted to educating children and adults about the otter and its lifestyle. Her current companion is Rudi, an Asian short-clawed otter now 11 years old, who scurries around his suite of pens in the woodland surrounding Daphne’s home, lord of all he surveys. He took a particular liking to photographer Phil Cannings’ boots, but I digress... Rudi’s predecessor Bee was Daphne’s first foray into otter care and while she clearly adores the animals, her life as an ‘otter was explaining how otters were dying out in England and Wales because of river pollution. Otters have a diet of fish, eels and molluscs. Because our rivers were getting contaminated, fish stocks were suffering and ultimately killing the otters at the top of the food-chain. “It became obvious that the government had to take some responsibility before we lost one of our native mammal species. No one had taken the trouble to look at what was happening in our beautiful rivers. “So, I decided to start a charm offensive – beguile the Department of the Environment into improving and safe-guarding natural wetland habitats, so that wildlife could live as it should. Bee and I went into schools, appeared on television, went to shows – any public event that would have us – to talk about the otter, how it survives and the difficulties that river pollution was causing.” This was in the early-1980s. By 1999, Daphne’s tactic paid off. Then Environment Secretary Michael Meacher had the law changed to reduce pollution in rivers, the fish gradually became more healthy and otters thrived. Job done – except that Daphne and Bee were a star attraction at many public shows and private parties by now, so she carried on. After Bee died, aged 13 and someone told her of another otter that needed hand- rearing, how could she resist? “When Rudi arrived, he had a readymade otter-friendly home to move into, so it didn’t take long for him to settle.” In fact, the pen was ‘officially opened’ by Princess Michael of Kent in 1995. “Princess Michael is just one of the many people I have met during my otter adventures,” laughs Daphne. lady’ came about quite by chance. “A friend of ours, Ian Hunter-Darling,

Daphne Neville and Rudi www.daphneneville.com

She has albums full of cuttings with Davids Bellamy and Attenborough, politicians and, most recently, the cast of hit ITV show The Durrells. “The producers wanted a pair of otters for a particular storyline and so Rudi was drafted in – I don’t think I’m giving too much away when I say he played both male and female otters, and in the next series I think he will be the whole family!” Daphne is a well-known face at the Royal County of Berkshire Show and this year will be her 25th. Now her job in getting the rivers cleaned up and seeing an increase in the otter population seems diminished, is it time to rest? “Oh goodness me no. We now have a problem in that, as otters increase in number and move into new territory, around 2,000 a year are being killed on the roads. warning whistle.You can buy them off Amazon for just a few pounds and they save lives.” She blows into the casing and a whistle sound does indeed emanate. “You stick it into the bumper of your car and as you drive along it makes the whistling sound, warning animals of your approach. It is proven to work and in Australia all cars are fitted with such a device as standard.” Not surprisingly Daphne has already written to many major car manufacturers asking them to consider fitting the device – actually asking why they haven’t. “Some have replied, saying they are ‘looking into it’.” Daphne is clearly unimpressed with this response. “I will bring some along to the show, so people can see how simple they are and have information on where they can be bought. “We’re not just talking about otters now, it is all animals – badgers, pheasant, deer and beloved pets, cats and dogs – not to mention avoiding the potential crashes caused by people swerving to avoid hitting the animals.” One senses that Daphne is well and truly on her next mission.  “It’s really shocking and heart- breaking and again the solution is relatively simple.” Daphne disappears and a few minutes later comes back with a clear plastic box, that fits in the palm of her hand. “You see this? It’s an animal

Wild animal alert whistle

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