Tarka Revisited by Ian Parsons

Tarka Revisited by Ian Parsons

Otter? Otter? OTTER! That elusive shadow, that fleeting glimpse, that sleek and slender form disappearing beneath the surface of the water. It is one hundred years since Henry Williamson wrote Tarka the Otter, the book that first brought these captivating animals into the public consciousness. A lot has changed for us over the last century, but is much different in the secretive life of the Otter?

Otters and the rivers in which they live have certainly been on a long journey, a perilous one at times. This book follows that course, a hundred years of riverine ebbs and flows. In richly poetic prose it reflects on what has happened to the Otter, as well as considering the outlook for this species today. Otters are now common across most of Britain, but is their future secure? Are there hard-won lessons from the last ten decades that we still have not heeded?

From near extinction at the hands of hunters and pollution, to modern-day urban living, Otters have always been intricately entwined with their ecosystem and habitat. The author speaks to those involved in Otter conservation who do so much to help these remarkable and surprisingly adaptable mammals survive the challenges of our world. This book is the perfect companion for anyone with an interest in wildlife and the environment. For the Otter enthusiast, it is essential reading.

Ian Parsons spent 20 years as a forest ranger working with people, goshawks, dormice, trees and everything in between. He now spends his time between Extremadura in Spain and Devon in England. He writes books and magazine articles on the subject that is closest to his heart: wildlife.