Otters build own playground from Christmas trees

An animal charity has asked people to donate their real Christmas trees to create a habitat for otters to play and shelter.

The UK Wild Otter Trust, based in north Devon, said the smell of real trees provided enrichment for the otters which also used the trees to build temporary homes.

Trust founder Dave Webb said the charity had 24 otter cubs which were enjoying playing on the 30 to 40 trees from across the south west of England it had already received.

Natasha Archdale, who donated her tree, said: "I've heard that the trees provide enjoyment, shelter and help their grooming and we're a big fan of the otters."

She said: "Our tree has brought us so much joy this Christmas and what could be nicer than to be able to repurpose and donate the tree to the otters."

Mr Webb said when the trees were first put into the otters' enclosure, the animals were a "little bit wary of them".

"They go up to them and they'll sniff so they're using their smelling senses obviously, they'll touch it with their noses so they're touching and feeling," he said.

"Then when they get a bit more confident they then start climbing in amongst it and then it becomes a bit of a game for them so it covers all sort of scenarios really."

The charity said it could collect trees from Kings Nympton, Umberleigh and South Molton in Devon but would be grateful for donations to be delivered directly to them.

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