Digital SEO and marketing agency Digitel, has so far raised £1000 for Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary since January with plans to double these donations by the end of the year. Digitel’s Managing Director, Alan Ible, has been visiting the Sanctuary with his wife Kat, located in South Devon, for over 20 years.
A small, family run attraction, the Sanctuary’s mission is to provide an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors, and a chance to meet the resident otters, butterflies and even an 11-year-old Iguana. The team care for a range of otters including British, Asian short clawed and North American river otters, rescuing and returning orphaned cubs and injured adult otters back into the wild.
Thanks to the efforts of places like the Sanctuary, otters, which were considered an endangered species 20 years ago, have since seen their numbers grow. However, with urban populations ever increasing, otters still face a number of challenges in the wild.
The funds raised by Alan and the Digitel team will help feed the otters as well as spoil them with special treats. The team also recently visited the Sanctuary and got the chance to feed a romp of otters which included mum and dad, Pepper and Hercules, and their daughter, Halloumi.
As well as the Sanctuary, Digitel has recently engaged with local charity, Sue Ryder. Buckfast Butterflies & Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary was chosen due to Alan’s wife Kat’s affinity for nature, particularly her love of otters since childhood. The couple’s connection with the Sanctuary began on Kat’s 21st birthday where she was surprised by Alan with an otter feeding experience. Since then, they have frequently returned to Dartmoor and regularly support the Sanctuary’s vital work.
David Field, Owner of the Sanctuary, said: “We’re delighted Alan and the Digitel team chose us as one of their selected beneficiaries. The contributions we receive from generous businesses and individuals are vital to us continuing our crucial work in nurturing and rehabilitating our lovely otters here at Dartmoor. We will use the donation for a month’s food for the otters and treat them to some trout, roach, cockles and crayfish. Without the support of our donors, our mission to protect the species would be made far more difficult.”
Alan Ible added: “Kat, my wife, has always had a passion for otters but since buying her a feeding experience at the Sanctuary over 20 years ago, we’ve just been hooked, regularly visiting ever since. It costs £250 a week to feed them so it’s great to be able to give back and support what is a wonderful place with a beautify butterfly enclosure, a wide variety of otter species, and the opportunity to see them feed and show off. Otters are sociable little guys and love when people visit them. We plan to continue to support the Sanctuary in the future.”
