The UK’s largest ever water vole release is being hailed a success as evidence shows the rare animals are once again established on the River Meon.

Once a common sight in the area, water voles had been locally extinct in the Meon Valley for at least ten years.

But thanks to a joint project led by the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA), the UK’s most rapidly declining mammal is making a comeback along the River Meon.

Since the project began in 2013 more than 1,500 have been released along the river valley.

SDNPA rangers and volunteers have been monitoring the water vole’s progress by carrying out surveys and using camera traps.

SDNPA lead ranger Elaina Whitaker-Slark said: “We’re calling our most intrepid vole Marco Vole-o, he has travelled about 7km from his original release site. We know this because he took a ‘selfie’ on one of our camera traps.

“Females tend to stay closer to release sites while males will travel further to look for a mate and start a new territory. We’ve since released more water voles near where Marco was last spotted so hopefully he’ll find love and settle down.

“The next release will take place this June with around 300 animals being released at Droxford and Exton. We’re so grateful to local residents, landowners and anglers who have supported the work.”

Water vole populations across the country have suffered in the past because of habitat loss, pollution and predation by non-native American mink.

The Meon Valley project partners have worked closely with landowners and anglers to control the mink and improve the quality of the habitat which will also benefit the river ecosystem as a whole.