International Giant Otter Studbook Husbandry and Management

substrates) or natural underground dens, the land around these locations, the land around
the water, and/or the remaining/other enclosure land areas can remain very damp or wet.
(Note: how wet nestboxes, dens and natural underground dens themselves become/remain is
not only dependent upon how close these areas are to the water, but it is also dependent on all of
the enclosure conditions.) E.g. when the otters leave the water to enter their sleeping areas,
water will be easily tracked and carried into the nestboxes and underground dens, as well as
onto the land that lies between these resting places and the water. (Note: because giant otters
take naps throughout the day, numerous trips of this nature can be made during the day,
although they also rest on other land areas as well.) Otters will also quickly dampen/wet these
areas when they use them to dry off and groom on because sufficient land area and/or adequate
substrates are not conveniently available for them to use for these activities before they enter
their sleeping areas. Without sufficient land area and/or adequate substrates, the
aforementioned areas will likely remain very damp or wet. Note: young cubs will primarily
stay/be kept by their parents in and near their nestboxes, dens, and natural underground
dens and on the land near the water’s edge. In the above inappropriate conditions, otters
will be exposed to damp/wet conditions for long/extended periods and poor health, serious
health problems, or even death can result. E.g. cub death by infection has occurred during
cub-rearing because of these conditions (see below). Parents, with no other choice, will be
subject to keeping their cubs as well as themselves in such conditions. Also when insufficient
land area exists, parents may be encouraged to put their cubs into the water more frequently than
they should.
Some examples of how inappropriate conditions resulted in poor giant otter health and/or death
follow. Poor coat condition affected the well-being of one confiscated wild born giant otter that
was housed for a significant period on a wet/damp land area in an enclosure at one institution
(Groenendijk, pers. comm.). The otter did not have sufficient area where it could remain dry
and clean. Its fur became matted and dirty and the guard hairs clumped together. This young
captive held otter stopped swimming because its fur coat was in such a poor condition that the
coat was unable to keep the otter dry. The otter would have become waterlogged if it entered
the water. Actions were taken to improve the otter's enclosure condition.
In at least one case, two giant otter cubs from the same litter were suspected to contract an
infection because of the wet/damp conditions (i.e. in the den) that they were reared in. The
wet/damp condition, that was responsible for the infection, caused the deaths of these parent
reared captive born cubs (Corredor, pers. comm.). Fortunately, action (i.e. by the frequent
addition of fresh dry deep sand in the den) could be taken, without disturbing the family rearing
cubs, to provide a temporary solution to quickly reduce the wetness/dampness in the den. The
remaining cub, that survived, was also given medical treatment.
Appropriate land to water ratios (i.e. sufficient land area) and enclosure land and floors
nearly entirely covered with soft sand, mulch, or/and soft loose soil (i.e. with the substrate
types, depths, and quality as recommended) are the most important husbandry provisions
needed to offer optimal grooming area and keep the land, floors, nestboxes and otters on
land dry and clean. In such conditions the otter’s fur coat, body, and feet will remain in a
healthy condition and otters can carry out the full extent of their innate grooming behaviors.
The other recommended land and water area locations and designs and locations for
nestboxes, dens, and areas for natural underground dens should be provided for similar
reasons. It is also especially important that the areas where young cubs primarily stay/are
kept, remain as dry as possible. Additional furnishings (large diameter logs with bark,
hollow logs large enough for entrance, nestboxes with bedding substrates etc.) that provide
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