A couple from Bothwell, South Lanarkshire, had a remarkable encounter while walking along the River Clyde when they spotted a rare albino otter swimming near the Livingstone Bridge.
Edward and Diana Mallinson, of North Dean Park Avenue, watched the all-white otter for about 10 minutes as it swam and jumped over small islands in the river. Mr Mallinson managed to capture photographs of the elusive animal.
“It was quite fascinating,” Mr Mallinson told the Advertiser. “My wife spotted it first. I have never seen an otter in the wild before, but to see a white one – and in Bothwell – was a great, and unexpected, experience.”
The photograph was sent to the International Otter Survival Fund on the Isle of Skye, which confirmed the animal was an albino otter. Dr Paul Yoxon, the charity’s head of operations, said: “It is rare to find an albino otter. I have been studying otters for 30 years and I have never seen one in the wild.”
Albinism, caused by a lack of pigment, makes survival harder for albino animals as they lack camouflage and are more vulnerable to predators. However, the sighting reflects the improving health of the River Clyde, which has seen a resurgence in otter populations in recent years.
Former council secretary Tom McGregor noted that otters are no longer a rarity on the Clyde and Avon, attributing this to cleaner water. “If you see an otter in a river, you know the water is in good condition,” he said.
