A UK survey has shown some signs of comeback of the gravely endangered water vole. It is known that water voles were common mammals found on the waterways across the country, but their numbers started declining in the 1990s and by the year 2005, 90% of them had disappeared.

The recent survey, claiming the comeback of the rodents was conducted by the Environment Agency. The agency said that the voles have been termed as the UK's fastest disappearing animals.

The reason for return of the mammals, as cited by the agency, was upgraded river water quality.

Also, another factor responsible for this has been stated to be the success in reserving and controlling the water voles' main predator, mink.

In the nationwide survey, 30 "vole hotspots" have been detected. These spots include grazing marshes and ditches in Yorkshire and Lancashire, wetlands on the east coast of England and moorlands in the Pennines.

According to the reports, the species is "extinct in Cornwall and the remaining two populations in Devon still very small".

The agency said that the number of voles is still declining in many areas and these are the areas covering the south east of England and parts of south and west Wales.

For attaining a good number of the species, so that the loss can be recovered, project workers of the agency are releasing voles across England and Wales.