A Dartmoor Search and Rescue team has become the first in the country to use otters in search and rescue operations.

The move to train the small mammals is a collaboration with the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary based in Buckfastleigh – a mile from the rescue team’s headquarters on the outskirts of Ashburton.

The otters have been chosen specifically because they are unsuitable for re-release into the wild and are accustomed to human interaction.

Kevin Chamberlain, chairman for Ashburton DSRT, said: “With so much heavy rain over the winter months and the increased risk of flooding, as a rescue team we have expanded our water rescue capabilities over recent years - and this year have taken the exciting step to recruit otters to aid us in water-based search and rescue scenarios.

”Over the past few months, a small number of volunteers from the Ashburton team have been training with the otter handlers at the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary to fully understand the animal’s behaviours.

The team is the first in the country from Mountain Rescue England and Wales to utilise these animals who are of course perfectly adapted to water-based scenarios.

“The otters have been extremely keen to engage and learn, are highly active and have provento be a very positive addition to our team,” explained Ashley Rubens, team vet and animal welfare officer.

“Working with the Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary we have been able to carefully select a group of otters, that for a variety of reasons cannot be released back into the wild, to support the operational search responsibilities of the team.

“The training is not only beneficial for the rescue team but has also proved positive enrichment for the otters who enjoy playing with our throw lines and working on recall.”

It is hoped the otters will complement the teams’ already operational Search Dog capability.

“Our search dogs are excellent at finding people on the moor, water margins and in rural areas,” said Paula Holbrook,dog handler and search manager.

“We also have drones that aid our searches from above and now we have otters to reach areas of rivers, flood and any body of water that our team members, dog teams and drones cannot reach or view properly. The otters will transform how we search in these areas.”