AN orphaned otter who has been nursed back to health is looking for a new home.

Dorset Wildlife Rescue who took in Ellie, an orphaned six-week-old otter last year, are now looking for a safe release site for her in Dorset.

Nick Ridge Co-Founder of Dorset Wildlife Rescue said: “Ellie was rescued in January last year and after 12 months of care and rehabilitation she will soon be ready to go back to the wild.

Otter numbers are starting to slowly recover after decades of their absence from Dorset’s rivers.

There are now regular sightings across the county and there is a healthy otter population in more populated areas including the Weymouth Wetlands Reserve on Radipole lake.

Mr Ridge added: “Ellie spent the first weeks of her life with us being bottle fed, then after she had been weaned she moved on to a purpose-built pen with the Otter Trust in the West Country.

“Now nearly full grown, she is ready to leave her rehabilitation programme and start life again as a healthy wild adult, back where she was born, on a Dorset river.”

Dorset Wildlife Rescue are appealing to land owners in Dorset, who have private river frontage to offer Ellie a second chance at a life in the wild.

Chris Easton, Wildlife Rescuer with DWR said: “We are looking for a safe spot on a reasonably-sized river where we can build a temporary holt [otter home].

“It is vitally important Ellie can have a regular supply of food and a safe hideaway with access to the water for a few weeks as she explores her new territory and from there be able to make herself a new fully permanent home of her choosing.”

Any land owner who thinks they might be able to help Ellie can email Dorset Wildlife Rescue through http://www.dorsetwildliferescue.co.uk.