Wildlife champion
Clare Balding tells us about her love of Eurasian otters
We waited for hours and then everyone went quiet. We saw one otter and it felt magical.
Why have you chosen the Eurasian otter?
As a sports presenter, I am very conscious of athleticism. So, for me, the otter would be an Olympic gold medallist in swimming. It is such a sleek, fast, muscular, beautiful and technically perfect swimmer that moves like a bullet through the water. It is also an excellent indicator of a healthy ecosystem and is a species that is very difficult to see, making it all the more rewarding when you do.
Describe an otter encounter that’s stayed with you
In 1994, three otters were reintroduced to the River Itchen in Hampshire. Since then, the elusive creatures have thrived, and regular sightings have followed – especially near Winchester City Mill. A few years back, I visited the location to do some filming. Arriving at dusk, we waited for hours and then suddenly everyone went quiet. “There! There!” We saw one otter, just brief ly and it felt so magical.
What needs to be done to protect habitats in the UK?
I’ve spent lots of time walking in the British countryside and am very aware of the abundance of riches that we have. Therefore, I was delighted to see so many people heading outside to enjoy our wild areas, especially during lockdown. But I would make a plea to people to be responsible – take your litter home with you and don’t trash the place! I think we have to get quite serious about it, because all that waste ends up polluting our environment and vital wildlife habitats.
Your new book, Heroic Animals, celebrates 100 incredible creatures. Give us an example
In 2012, three rhinos were darted in Kariega Game Reserve, South Africa, and their faces were hacked for their horns. Only two were found alive and disfigured. They were rescued and named Thandi and Themba but, sadly, only Thandi made a full recovery. After pioneering skin grafts on her face were attempted in 2013, blood tests revealed she was pregnant. In the face of such despair and negativity, Thandi has become a symbol of hope that we can beat the poachers. I couldn’t get over the brutality of that attack and wanted to write about her to raise awareness that the fight isn’t over.
How does the book explore the relationship between humans and animals?
There are lots of great examples of how animals have inf luenced our lives but a historic tale that I enjoyed learning about was the story of Zarafa the giraffe who was a gift from Muhammad Ali of Egypt to King Charles X of France in 1827. She docked in Marseille after travelling on a specially adapted ship and, because they couldn’t come up with any transport to get her to Paris, she walked right across France, creating a massive stir as people came to see her. Zarafa even inspired a wave of giraffelike hairstyles! She set off on 20 May and eventually got to Paris by 9 July.