The Tarafa River, as it flows through the municipality of Aspe, has become the scene of a discovery of great environmental significance for the province of Alicante: the sighting of a pair of otters, according to the newspaper Información. The sighting was made by nature photographers and wildlife enthusiasts José Vicente Verdú Botella and Francisco Rafael Martínez Perea, who emphasize the importance of this event.

Although solitary otters had been documented in the area since the spring of 2024, this is the first time a pair has been recorded in the riverbed in Aspe. This could indicate not only the species' regular use of the river, but also its potential as a breeding area.

The European otter (Lutra lutra) is a protected species and considered a key bioindicator of the health of river ecosystems. Its presence is usually associated with clean water, abundant prey, and well-preserved habitats. For decades, it was listed as endangered in Spain and even disappeared from large areas of the southeastern Iberian Peninsula.

The confirmation of its presence in the Tarafa area reinforces the idea of a gradual expansion from the wetlands of the south of the province inland. In recent years, the species has recolonized historical sites such as El Hondo Natural Park, where its return was confirmed in May 2017 after more than half a century of absence.