Water voles are returning to a river in southeast England! 300 water voles have been reintroduced to the river. The goal of this project is to restore the water vole population and bring diversity to the river. Water voles are an important food source for other animals and help shape their habitats. They create pathways for rare plant species to grow. The project is led by the National Trust and Environment Agency, with local groups and volunteers participating. The goal is to create a sustainable water vole population in the river. Water voles have not been seen in this area for over 20 years, but the project team is hopeful they will return. The water vole population has decreased significantly since the 1970s due to habitat loss and hunting. This is the second release of water voles, with the first group introduced near the town of Haslemere in Surrey. More releases are planned for next year, and there are early signs that the first population is doing well. Did you know that water voles are an important food source for other animals, such as owls and otters? You might be wondering: Why are water voles important? Why did their population decrease? What is the goal of the project? The answers are: Water voles are important because they are a food source for other animals and help shape their habitats. Their population decreased due to habitat loss and hunting. The goal of the project is to create a sustainable water vole population in the river. In conclusion, the return of water voles to the river will bring diversity and create an important food source for other animals. The success of the project will help restore the water vole population. Kids can learn about what they can do to protect nature and animals.