Recently, Ecuador has changed its constitution to proclaim Nature’s right to exist and regenerate itself. In the wake of a major disaster facing Japan, this move by this democratic republic in South America speaks volumes about how Man has perceived himself in context of Nature. It is difficult to say whether this move by the Homo-sapiens can be deemed as acceptance of compassionate co-existence or an imprudent statement on great leveler. Any which ways, water voles too are protected species in United Kingdom under Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. It is however ironical that first humanity does everything that causes elimination of certain species and then it wakes up from its beauty sleep to protect it when it is considerably too late! But, as they say, better late than never! Let us strike the chord with a reasonable optimism! Water voles are often found at the river bank sides, on edges of lakes, ponds and canals, and in and around moist lands. They have their burrows around these water reserves and they come out of this now and then in search of the food. 95% of these plump-faced and brown-eared protected species has been wiped out from this planet Earth.

Thus, being a tasty food to some of the predators in the environmental cycle is one of the reasons why they are eliminated and consequently need to be protected. Another major reason of their being endangered is insensitive and un-empathetic agricultural mechanism especially heavy grazing. In this background, the water voles are protected, especially in United Kingdom under a special law called Wildlife and Countryside 1981. This law mandates any house development or project to rehabilitate water voles if there are any on the site in question. It is a criminal offense if they are being destroyed intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, any new house development project or office development project needs the help of ecological consultants because they have certain techniques to re-house or relocate these animals. Read more..