Watch: Adorable otters spotted playing in the heart of Edinburgh

A man from Edinburgh has captured rare footage of otters living near Arthur’s Seat on an early morning walk.

It may come as a surprise but the Capital is home to several wild otters who live happily on the banks of the city’s lochs and rivers.

Sightings of the Edinburgh residents are rare as otters are shy creatures who tend to shun the spotlight.

But software engineer Duncan Stewart was lucky enough to come across a pair of the furry animals at Dunsapie Loch near Arthur's Seat.

Keen photographer Duncan Stewart caught this photo at Dunsapie Loch

After a tip-off from a friend, the South Queensferry resident rose early to catch a glimpse of the secret life of the animals at 7.45am on Monday, November 2, 2020.

The 41-year-old said: “I heard from a couple of friends that they were there so I rose at 5am to get there when it was quiet.”

Delighted to see the wild animals in their natural habitat, Mr Stewart observed an otter playing on the bank and swimming in the loch.

He said: “I was told that two otters live there and I saw one of them several times, I observed it coming out of the water and going back in.”

Duncan Stewart watched as the playful animal took a dip in the loch near Arthur's Seat.

The keen photographer said the special moment was made “all the more enjoyable” by being able to share it with others in the park.

He said: “I met and chatted to a number of locals who excitedly asked me if I’d seen them yet. Sharing the experience with others made it all the more enjoyable."

The rare sighting left Mr Stewart in good spirits and he has encouraged others to spend time in nature during the pandemic to improve their mental wellbeing.

He said: “This year more than ever I think it is good for our mental health to get out into nature as often as possible.

“There is a huge amount of science to back this up, and watching this beautiful creature go about his life certainly left me feeling good for the rest of the day.

“I would encourage anyone with children to take them down early, be quiet and careful, and hopefully they will have the same experience of natural beauty that I did.”

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