International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

giant otters living in the wild are totally brown and soft, smooth, and supple in condition.
In addition, at the time of their birth, giant otters’ feet and toes in captivity have the same
appearance as just described. From this information, it was concluded that a giant otter in
captivity should and would have the same foot condition, if its feet were natural and
healthy. The enclosure furnishings and designs of an otter exhibiting this condition would
therefore indicate those conditions that are necessary to maintain healthy giant otter feet.
Of the six total zoos in this comparison study (five of which are located outside of South
America), Brasilia and Dortmund Zoos were the only zoos that offered giant otter enclosures
with land/floor surfaces that were nearly entirely covered by soft substrates. (Note: this
included comparisons of all the indoor and/or outdoor enclosures at the six zoos. When the
otters had access to both indoor and outdoor enclosures (at the same time) these indoor and
outdoor areas combined were considered to be "one" enclosure.
In 1998 four otters (in two separate similar enclosures) and in 2002 eleven otters (in two
separate similar enclosures) that were all housed at Brasilia Zoo, were closely observed. (All
but one of these otters lived their entire lives at this institution. The otters ranged in age from
young to very old and eight of the otters were adults or close to adult age when they were
observed. Only two of the otters observed in 1998 were also re-observed in 2002. See the
description of their enclosures in the introduction paragraph to this comparison study.) Most of
these otters had healthy natural appearing pads, webbing, and skin. I.e. their entire feet
were totally brown, soft, smooth and supple. (Their feet remained healthy during their
development and lifetime at this institution. It is important to note that their feet do not become
unhealthy even during rainy or very humid periods when the soft loose soil can become very
damp or wet for extended periods. These otters do not have indoor enclosures.) The
remainder of these giant otters 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.
General information was known about the history of four of the giant otters at Brasilia where
recovery from unhealthy foot condition was indicated. These otters were separated from either
their mates (on multiple occasions) or their parents, but during separation either their mate or
father was kept on the opposite adjacent exhibit side during their long periods of separation (i.e.
at least many months). The separated otters had visual-olfactory-acoustic contact with each
other during separation. (The mother was also separated from her young offspring, but she was
kept in an enclosure far away from the exhibit and she was not returned to the exhibit.) An
approx. 1 meter wide cement floor area borders the entire length of the fence containment
barrier that separates the two expansive exhibits (to help prevent the otters from digging under
the fence). When these otters were separated it is likely they damaged their feet (to a significant
degree) during separation on the containment barrier fence and/or its accompanying cement
floor area by trying to dig out/through (in an excessive manner) to get to their family member on
the opposite side. (Note: when giant otters are separated from their family members or familiar
partners (or even separated unfamiliar animals), but are still in visual-olfactory-acoustic contact
with the animal/s that they have been separated from, the following can occur. They will likely
for a time excessively dig on/into land surfaces immediately adjacent to the containment barriers
that allow vision etc. and dig directly on such containment barriers (e.g. fence) in attempts to dig
out or through to the otter/s that have been separated. This should not be confused with the
behavior of excessively digging throughout the entire enclosure land area to relieve their stress.
It is necessary that nearly the entire enclosure (including the area next to the containment
barriers that might be dug into) is covered with soft loose substrates and deep digging areas are
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