Morning stroll puts rare albino otter in the frame

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 20:18

An AMATEUR photographer is thought to have become the second person in Britain to have captured a snap of a rare albino otter in the wild.

The fair-furred mammal was discovered slinking through an Ayrshire housing estate by David Cardie, as he returned from buying his morning newspapers.

Mr Cardie, 68, ran home to grab his camera and caught the striking creature on film. But he was amazed to be told of the rarity of his pictures.

Grace Yoxon, director of the International Otter Survival Fund, based in Skye, said: "To the best of expert knowledge, this is only the second albino otter actually photographed in the wild in Britain ever.

"It is astounding and exciting to see a picture of an albino otter, all otters are beautiful but albinos are so very different.

"There are very few of them living in Britain and the fact that it has survived until now is a miracle."

The albino animal had appeared for a few lucky people who spotted it in the River Ayr.

The bold creature has become a celebrity, now often seen walking past residents in the town.