An intensive search for wild otters, which began in June this year, has produced not a single one, despite a reward of €500 for a confirmed sighting. Natuurpunt received news of claimed sightings, but the animals turned out to be beavers or muskrats.

This situation is estimated to be as bad in Wallonia; otters in Belgium were virtually wiped out in about the mid-20th century by competition from fishermen and river pollution. There was hope that an improved environmental situation might allow the creature to re-establish itself, but that appears to not be the case. The unclaimed €500 reward will now go to Het Grote Netewoud, a nature reserve near Leuven.

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