Mass otters released on Dartmoor !

The Chinese zodiac may say rooster but on Dartmoor 2017 is set to be the year of the otter, as Dartmoor National Park launches a new public arts initiative to celebrate the incredible diversity of habitats and wildlife on the Moor and raise important funds to enhance visitor experiences and protect these amazing natural wonders.

Moor Otters is a series of 100 unique pieces of art that will be displayed in accessible public areas around Dartmoor and the gateway towns during the summer of 2017. Each three-foot tall resin otter sculpture has been designed and decorated by a different artist, and portrays the artist’s own interpretations of wildlife and conservation issues.

Visitors to Dartmoor will be encouraged to explore the trail between June and September next year, with a dedicated website and trail map available. The artworks will then be auctioned off at both live and online auctions. Otter Trail booklets showing images of all the Otters are available at participating venues and tourist information points. Anybody who finds and lists the unique reference codes of 20 Moor Otters can claim an Otter Spotter badge at a DNP Visitor Centre and will be entered into a draw to win a range of spot prizes.

The project aims to raise £100,000 through both business sponsorship and sales of the otters at auction, which will be used for projects to conserve and enhance Dartmoor’s landscape and wildlife, as well as improve access for everybody. The money will also help develop Dartmoor’s Young Ranger programme, which supports educational access and engages young people in conservation projects, creating the conservationists of the future.

30 Golden Otters will be selected to go forward to a live auction at Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood, in Exeter on 30th September 2017 (the online auction will close the following week).