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