European otters have made a remarkable comeback in UK rivers after near-extinction from pollution and hunting. Their welfare continues to depend on clean water, fish, and undisturbed territories.
Otter recovery is one of the UK's conservation success stories, demonstrating that wildlife welfare can improve dramatically through pollution control and habitat protection. Current welfare challenges include road deaths from otters crossing between waterways, which cause acute traumatic injury. Fish availability depends on river quality and sustainable fish populations. Otters are sensitive to disturbance during natal holts - females with cubs require undisturbed territories. Pollution incidents in rivers continue to cause fish kills that affect otter food supplies, sometimes causing starvation in established territories.