International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

No additional or detailed information was available. Additionally, at least four other giant
otters were observed to have off-white/light pink pads (with all other foot parts normal and
healthy in appearance) when they were kept in appropriate enclosure conditions. These otters
are believed to have recovered in the same manner as described, although the detailed history of
foot problems with these individuals is unknown.)
The degree to which pink foot/toe pads are unhealthy or problematic, should be compared
to the obvious health problems that can exist if this unhealthy condition becomes even somewhat
worse, which can happen easily and quickly even in typical conditions. This occurrence is
unfortunately not uncommon. It must also be taken into consideration how frequently abnormal
(i.e. pink) foot/toe pad conditions occur in captivity. It also should be compared to the
(unknown) degree that the otter is caused discomfort because of this (typical) existing condition.
The evaluation of the amount of unhealthiness or potential that this condition has to cause
serious harm, seems quite significant when the typical captive otter is compared to a wild otter or
a captive otter housed in appropriate situations. I.e. pink, which means pads are irritated and
damaged, is quite a different appearance and health condition compared to healthy normal foot
and toe pads that are totally brown. This also indicates that too often zoos/institutions are not
providing enclosure substrates (or/and land to water ratios) in an appropriate way to maintain
otters in their most healthy and natural state.
In a long-term comparison study, the only otters observed in captivity with healthy and
natural appearing (i.e. most esp. in color) pads, webbing, and skin on the feet and toes were
those that were housed on soft loose natural substrates that covered nearly the entire
enclosure land/floor area. Appropriate land to water ratios were also offered. These otters
were/are housed at Brasilia Zoo (most of them for their entire lives) where they had two similar
expansive outdoor enclosures each sized 635 m 2 [6,835 ft²], sufficient swimming areas, and
85% land to 15% water area ratios. Non-ferric Red Latosol soil (a recommended soil type)
covered nearly the entire land areas and the otters dug many underground dens throughout the
extensive area of hillsides provided. Most of the thirteen otters housed and observed at Brasilia
during the study period had healthy normal appearing feet as described, although the remainder
had off-white/light pink color pads (with all other foot parts normal and healthy in condition).
This indicated that these otters had recovered (within this exhibit) from having unhealthy feet.
Additionally, one otter that was transferred from Brasilia Zoo, also exhibited completely healthy
foot condition after it was housed at Dortmund Zoo in two of their three different giant otter
enclosures. The land and floors of these three enclosures are nearly entirely covered with soft
sand and/or mulch as recommended, they have appropriate land to water ratios, deep digging
areas above minimum size, and indoor/outdoor access all year. (This zoo is located in a
temperate climate.) In these same enclosures, four other otters had pads that were offwhite/light
pink in color and the remaining foot parts were healthy in condition. These four
otters had recovered from having unhealthy foot condition caused by long-term exposure (i.e.
many years) to hard surfaces and in some cases as well, insufficient land area because of
inappropriate land to water ratios.
The comparison study was limited to observations made at six zoos, where the giant otters’ feet
could be closely seen (Sykes-Gatz and Gatz, unpublished study and pers. obs.). (Each zoo had
one or more giant otter enclosures.) The comparison of foot and toe webbing, skin, and pad
condition within each zoo was made based on the experiences/study of the observers and close
observations. The observers learned what the foot condition of wild giant otters are because of
the appearance described by Groenendijk (Groenendijk, pers. comm.) who closely observes and
researches wild giant otters in Peru. The skin, pads, and webbing on the feet and toes of
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