Meet Sarah Neill
We have known Sarah for many years and she has been working with otters since 2006. She has helped in the rescue and rehabilitation of many orphaned otter cubs found in Cumbria and provides their initial care until they are strong enough to travel to the IOSF otter sanctuary on Skye.
She is a lecturer at the Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre, which was the UK’s first teaching animal rescue centre. Lisbeth Tuckey is one of the two resident vets there and we met her over 20 years ago when she visited Skye, so we have a great connection with the Kendal team.
Sarah is a trained marine biologist and has so many interests in marine species, although she cares passionately for all wildlife. Her most recent project was as co-expedition leader to study orca and humpback whales 350 km north of the Arctic Circle with Sea Women Expeditions. They were collecting data on behaviour and also collecting critical biological and environmental data about the warming arctic environment.
Sarah has been a supporter of IOSF since 2012, giving talks and holding fundraising events. In her role as a lecturer at Kendal College she encourages her students to be aware of otters, their conservation, and consider carrying out their dissertation into an otter-related topic.
In 2020 she joined the IOSF Board so that she can help promote and develop our work further.
Sarah with the Sea Otter statue at The Marine Mammal Centre in California.
So without further ado, please meet... Sarah Neill!!
We know you work with a variety of animals, but what particularly endears you to otters? And also, what is your favourite and least favourite thing about working with them?
Having grown up reading the Ring of Bright Water, it always conjured up a magical feeling about the otter for me. That combined with them being so elusive only reinforced that feeling. It felt a bit like they lived in a secret world. I first started working with Asian short-clawed otters many years ago back when I was an aquarist, and did not see my first wild otter until I moved to the Lake District, which was a magical moment! My favourite thing about working with otters is how sassy and full of character they are, each individual has a different personality. Its very hard to have a least favourite thing about working with otters!
What made you want to help otters/get into otter conservation?
When I first started working with Asian otters as an aquarist, I saw how intelligent and inquistivie otters were. I really wanted to improve husbandry and enrichment, encourage natural behaviours, and make sure they had the best quality of life under my care. Every facility I worked at I devised better diets, husbandry, training and enrichment programmes. Then one day somebody brought two wild orphaned Eurasian otter cubs to my workplace, which was a total surprise, and I ended up rearing them under the guidance of IOSF (Bubble and Squeak). This is what introduced me to the work of the IOSF and made me want to do even more for otter conservation. I immediately got involved in raising awareness, fundraising and otter rehabilitation.
Do you feel people in general understand the importance of otters in respect to the environment/biodiversity?
I think some people do but unfortunately many do not appreciate the otter as a keystone species and excellent environmental indicator. Unfortuately otters still face persecution, and more people need to understand their ecological importance.
What do you feel is the biggest ‘hurdle’ in otter conservation/rehab?
I think the biggest hurdle is that otters worldwide face such a multitude of threats, from the illegal wildlife trade (pets and furs), to pollution, to habitat loss, to human disturbance etc.. yet there seems to be a big lack of awareness about all these threats that they face. Many of my students are shocked to learn that for every one tiger skin found illegally there are 10 otter furs!
What's the best part of your work (with otters/wildlife/conservation)?
My role now working at Kendal College combines my love of education, conservation and caring for animals. In 2017 I co-wrote our foundation degree course in British Animal Management and Wildlife Rehabilitation alongside my friend and colleague Dr. Lisbeth Tuckey, who is a veterinarian. Not only do we get to teach the next generation of animal carers the highest standards of welfare, and enthuse the next generation of conservationists to restore and protect the natural world, but we are also unique in being the first college in the country to run a genuine wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre on site. Facilities include an intensive care and treatment room with industry-standard surgical equipment and digital x-ray facilities to provide the highest level of care for animals. It is a great feeling being able to admit an animal, be a part of its recovery and then see its subsequent release back into the wild where it belongs.
And finally.... What has been your favourite otter 'moment'?
I have so many! But last summer I went to Monterey Bay in California and I really hoped I would be lucky enough to see a wild sea otter. I was snorkelling at Breakwater when all of a sudden two wild sea otters popped up next to me! I stayed very still so as not to disturb them, and was alert and ready to scare them off if necessary, as I know that although they look incredibly cute they are in fact dangerous wild animals! Luckily for me they were just curious, once they had investigated me for a few minutes they swam off, but it was an amazing encounter!
A massive thank you to Sarah for talking to us about all things otter, and we wish both her, and the team at Kendal College Animal Rescue Centre, well for the future.